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I shake my head.

“Nora, look at me.”

I do.

Chiara studies me for a moment.

“I might die tomorrow.”

“Don’t even say that as a joke.”

I slap her playfully.

“But if I do, would it have helped to hold back from loving others because I knew?”

“What are you getting at?”

“Nobody is promised tomorrow. You know that more than anyone, Nora. But just because you’re not promised tomorrow doesn’t mean you should stop living, planning, laughing and loving today, should it?”

I get it.

I nod.

“So you take it day by day.”

I think it over. Day by day... Somehow, thinking about only one day at a time gives me peace.

“Remember, as kids, we used to tell each other one thing we liked about our day before bed?”

I smile and nod at Chiara. I had forgotten about that.

“Today, mine was Matteo...”

She blushes and I ooh and aah, teasing her.

“Yours?”

I think about it, and the answer comes easily.

“Jude,” I say. “I think for a while now he’s been the best part of my days.”

Chiara nods.

“But I’m not ready.” I shake my head, knowing in my heart that both truths are real at this moment.

“One doesn’t necessarily have to exclude the other, Nora.”

I think it over.

“Yeah... I guess so.”

“We still have half a day here,” she says. “Talk to him tomorrow morning. Tell him the truth, whatever that truth is.”

I stare at the ceiling.

“After everything he’s done for me...”

“You don’t owe him love because he was good to you, Nora.”