“Of course. I’m in remission. Did you forget?”
“No, but even in remission, there are usually limitations – and you don’t seem to have any.” I hesitated, debating whether to tell her about my conversation with David earlier that day at the hospital.
“I do.”
“I haven’t seen any limitations.”
“Oops – you forgot? Stairs are tough for me.”
“True, but you’re not the only one.”
“That’s from the arthritis I had. The doctors say it damaged one of my heart valves.”
“But you really don’t act like someone with heart valve issues.”
“If you say so, then I don’t…” She laughed – that same wonderful laugh that always captured my heart. This time, it made me forget all about the late Baron Münchausen.
“So what was hard for you today?” I asked. Lily started talking about her struggle with her parents, especially her father, aboutthe bicycle. She had managed to convince him it was only for short rides, nothing too demanding, and that Tel-Aviv was basically flat. In the end, he gave in, agreed, and contributed a reasonable sum for her to buy one. When I said that didn’t sound so difficult – just a chat with her dad about a bike – she agreed, but quickly added that something else was bothering her. Something serious. Something she wasn’t sure I’d agree to. She preferred to postpone it for another day.
“You already know how curious I am, right?”
“Yes, but I’d rather…”
“And I’d rather know now.” I hugged her and looked straight into her green eyes.
I saw she was struggling to share, so I tried to coax her with guesses, each one followed by a kiss that melted us further into each other.
“So, is it about our talk yesterday? About studying?” I thought I’d hit the mark, since on Shabbat, I had tried to convince her to study art formally, and she had flatly refused.
“No.”
“Your job with your father?” I tried again.
“No.”
“Is it about me?” The guessing game went on.
“Yes.”
“You know I love you. If it has to do with our relationship, then the answer is YES!” I said.
“I know, but I’m not sure you’ll agree to this.”
“If it’s something you want, then even the sky isn’t the limit.”
“You’ll laugh at me.”
“Does it have to do with the bicycle?”
“Absolutely not.”
“So…?”
“I want … I want us to make a blood pact.”
“A … what?”
“A blood pact, yes! A blood pact…”
