Jake looked at me, his eyes catching the moonlight, his smile as soft as the diamond-white glow. I was surprised when I saw a tear slip from the corner, falling down his cheek like a stray jewel. “I don’t think she can,” he said, his voice hitching. “But God, I’d love it if she could. Us three together, that would be incredible. But… she’s already forgetting some major things. I don’t think taking her out of her comfort zone would be good.” He closed his eyes and swallowed a lump. “Fuck, I can’t even talk about her without getting choked up.”

“It’s okay,” I said, rubbing the back of his neck. I’d come to learn that was one of his favorite places to be touched. “I can’t imagine how hard this must be. I’m lucky enough to say I’m close with both my parents, and they’re both in good health. I honestly dread getting any kind of call with bad news from them. And you’ve been so supportive of her, too. You’ve been a really good son, and that’s what matters.”

Jake’s bottom lip quivered. Seeing him crack like this made my own emotions swell like a rising tide. “It just really fucking sucks. I’m twenty-six, and I’m already losing my mom after I already lost my dad. And it’s all happening in—in slow motion. I have to watch her forget about me. I have to watch—” He couldn’t continue, his lip shaking beyond his control, more crystalline tears dripping down his cheeks. I turned away, hiding my own tears, not wanting to feed into his sadness.

“And there’s nothing I can do,” Jake continued when he felt comfortable enough to speak again. “There’s nothing that can give us hope. I’ve tried getting her into a few experimental trials, but nothing is guaranteed. It’s such a monstrous disease. Cruel.”

“Even if she can’t remember, those moments you’ve shared with her aren’t going anywhere. They’ll always make up the fabric of you and her. History can’t be erased, no matter how flimsy memory can be. And then when we all make it to wherever we’re going in the end, we can reminisce on them.”

Jake licked his lips and managed a smile. His eyes bounced between mine like he was searching for something. What it was, I wasn’t sure, but I let him look, digging through my soul for whatever it was he needed.

“That’s a beautiful way to think about it,” he finally said. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead, his lips lingering on my skin for a couple of heavenly moments. “Maybe there is a way to keep the hope alive after all.”