On the morning of his birthday Dylan filmed social media videos under a ring light while announcing that he was blessed to see twenty seven years of life even though he was turning twenty eight. I handed him a designer watch that he had been admiring online for weeks, and he kissed my cheek before posting several photographs of the gift for his followers.
At five in the evening I told him that the hospital needed me for a short shift and that I might arrive late to dinner. Dylan barely looked up from his phone as he said, “Do not be late because the reservation is important.”
Instead of going to the hospital I drove to Marco’s apartment where he had already prepared snacks and turned on a basketball game. He asked whether I wanted conversation or silence, and I chose silence because my mind felt steady rather than emotional.