Page 139 of Nil

“Hey,” I tilted up her chin so I could see her eyes. “I promised, remember?”

“I remember.” She smiled, her eyes brighter than Nil’s sun. “I remember everything.”

“I love you, Charley with ane-y.” Lowering my lips to hers, I kissed her, because I refused to waste a minute. Nil had taught me that. But Nil was then; Charley was now.

“Do you know what day it is?” she asked, wrapping her arms around my neck.

I grasped for the date, fighting Nil déjà vu. “January fifth?”

Laughing, Charley shook her head. “It’s Day One,” she said. “It’sourDay One.”

And with that, Nil’s shadow vanished; the tick-tock was gone. All I felt was the sweet stoke of a future without limits.

“Day One,” I agreed, pulling Charley close. “Of forever.”