It’s all right. I can do it.
Since he had to forget all his beautiful memories, he decided he deserved to forget his worst memory too. He drew a picture of an electrical cord in his father’s hand.
—
Last night here. What do you want to do?
One more trip to the firemoths before we leave.
Why? You won’t remember them, and I can’t tell you about them.
Jeremy’s eyes so wide, his face so young, the sadness in his voice…
It’s your favorite place. And you’ll remember for the both of us. Just promise me something. One last order, I guess.
Anything.
I think it’s going to be a long time before we can come back.
Maybe. Probably.
I won’t remember I love you, so I don’t know what’ll happen. I won’t ask you to, like, wait for me. You know what I mean.
I know.
But please, don’t forget you love me.
Is that an order?
Pretend it is.
A kiss. The first kiss of their last night. Then a whispered promise in the dark.
Yes, Your Highness.
—
Finally, a chance to talk to Jeremy alone.
You think we’re dreaming? Rafe asked.
If so, we’re having the same dream. This place is unbelievable. She said we could stay as long as we want.
I want.
—
Jeremy sat at the feet of their queen, head in her lap as she stroked his hair. Rafe on the rug by the fireplace next to them, sketching them. Evening. Candles lit. Fire glowing. They tell one another stories. He has never known happiness like this. If they could only stay this way forever.
Your turn to read, my prince.
What are we reading?
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.
—
A hand, impossibly strong, yanking him out the basement door to the shed. The shed, the shed, he hadn’t been out to the shed since he was eight.
You think you’re funny? You think this is funny?
No, no, it’s not funny, Dad.
You taped that thing back together to be funny?
He can’t tell him the truth. He can’t. He can’t say the book slid under his bedroom door, taped back together. Because then it’s Mom out here in the shed. Better him than Mom.
Say you’re sorry. Say you’re sorry or you’re gonna regret the day you were born.
Don’t say it. Don’t say it. He’s got an electrical cord in his hand, and if Rafe says it—
I already do.
—
RAFE? THAT’S YOUR NAME?
Flat on his stomach in a bed softer than he’s ever imagined…eyes slowly blinking open…the first question the only one that mattered—
