"No, Meredith. That's not true. You're the one I love!"
Vincent shuffled closer on his knees and finally caught my cool fingers. His palm was hot. His tears fell onto the back of my hand.
"I was blind. I took everything you did for granted. When I had a bleeding ulcer three years ago, you checked my water with a thermometer. I swore I'd take care of you for the rest of my life. I remember. I remember all of it!" Like a drowning man, he frantically gathered every tender memory he could find, trying to turn them into something that would keep him afloat. "Don't you remember? You loved the lemon cake from that place on the south side of town. Whenever it poured, I'd stand in line to buy it for you. You were always cold, so every winter I warmed your cold feet under the blanket. We said we'd
