“And then…you showed up.” His mouth twitches with a smile, and in his eyes, I see that boy he once was—the boy I was, reflected back. “And you showed me Pearl Jam,” he says with a laugh. “‘Jeremy,’” I say, nodding, remembering. “Yup, and just like that, watching you light up when you saw how shocked I was. How much I loved it.” He shakes his head, eyes full of wonder, like he’s right back there. “Suddenly, I had a…a small corner of that world,” —he waves a hand, as if indicating outside this room— “their world, but one that was made just for me, and me alone.” His gaze refocuses on mine, and
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