He understood what I meant.

The old life had contained beautiful things, but also long stretches of absence and a kind of loneliness neither of us wanted to repeat.

“I’d like my health back,” he said.

“I wouldn’t want the secrets.”

“Then we’re agreed.”

We began making plans that could change with circumstances: a short trip to a lake if he felt well enough, a few school events, a garden bed he and Sadie could tend from a bench.

None of them depended on pretending the future was guaranteed.