“I think they’re okay. Or at least they will be. I think today brought us some closure. We’ve been reluctant to scatter Sequoia’s ashes for so long. But back in the woods, I can’t explain why, somehow it just felt right.” They had hiked along one of the less popular trails for about an hour and stopped at a thick stand of redwoods that blocked the view to the ocean. “I wasn’t necessarily expecting that. It’s hard to let go of someone when you have so little of them left to hold on to. But she wanted to see the redwoods. And now she’s a part of them. She belongs there, in that beautiful place. We found her the perfect spot.”

“She’ll be able to see all the way to the ocean, just like you wanted her to.”

He gazes at the bay with a faraway look in his eyes.

“Are you okay?” she asks, nudging him with her shoulder.

“I will be,” he replies. “Having you here makes things easier. Thanks again for coming.”

“Well, it’s like I told you before. I’m happy to be able to help you for a change. You’ve done so much for me this year. Sometimes I feel like I’ll never be able to pay you back.”

“I didn’t do anything, other than listen to you, and maybe give you the odd book to read.”

“Which meant everything to me.”

“Well, it’s like I’ve been trying to tell you. Everything is what you deserve.”

His gaze shifts from the blue waters of the bay and locks onto her face. Despite all the active air around her, she can’t seem to pull in just one breath.

“Kavita?” he asks. “You look like you’re about to hurl. Do I need to get out of the way?”

She pauses. Looks at him. Can’t tell if he’s joking or not. All of a sudden, her nerves spurt into laughter. “Only you could diffuse a tense moment like that.” Smiling, she shakes her head. Only him.

“Just tell me,” he says, straight-faced. “I can take it.”

She can almost hear her heart thudding in her ears. Where to begin? “I want you to know how much you mean to me,” she says, slowly. “I never expected to make another best friend after Sunil passed away, but that’s what you’ve become to me. I don’t want to lose you.”

“Then you won’t.”

“I’m flattered that you asked me to join you in Costa Rica. And if I’m honest, part of me wants to go with you and see what happens. There’s a part of me that wants to run and not stop, ever. But that isn’t the right reason, is it?”