[Aubrey doesn’t let go.

[She knows. It hurts. It always will.

[He’s said it, now. It can’t be undone.
[And they’re still here.

[Aubrey keeps squeezing his hand, steady. Only lifts the other to wipe his lip, just a thumb. (It’s shaking, a little.) Mari wouldn’t have wanted him to bleed for her.]

[Barely above a whisper:] She loved you, too.