You can learn from that without living forever inside the worst part of it.”

He nodded.

The river flowed below us, indifferent to our conversation.

On the drive back, Toby asked whether I would ever trust him again the way I used to.

“I hope I’ll trust you better,” I said.

“The old trust depended on assumptions.

The new kind will depend on us telling the truth.”

He looked out the window.