My heart immediately heavy. I hated this story. "Nothing to tell. Its four years since...." my turn to feel pain. It formed this fulcrum, this odd point of connection between us. I felt very close just then for some reason, I remembered. We talked low in this large silent house, one light on. The two of us now.

And she leaned in, and I wanted it not to go there, not tonight. So I added, "And you threw that snowball at me."

She laughed. "That's right. Oh my god. So, now?"

"I got to get back at you sometime." I grinned.

"What do you do around here?" She yawned.

I...