Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Other Four-Letter Words

by Michael Ausiello

Rather than subject my interrogation-phobic spouse to my litany of neurotic follow-ups, I swallowed another sip of wine and reassured him with utmost confidence. “Your parents will always be in my life. I will be here for them. I promise.” As hard as it was to have this discussion, I felt a sense of relief that we were finally broaching the subject of what my life would look like without Kit in it—something I’d been reticent to do prior to Davis’s call this evening. I then decided to take it a step further and share something that could have a direct impact on my proximity to Kit’s parents. “I was thinking . . . I might move to Los Angeles,” I told him, trepidatiously. “I figured you would,” he said, unfazed, as he lit up his one-hitter before taking another puff. “How would you feel about that?” “I think you should do it,” he said, triggering a deluge of relief inside me that, in turn, triggered another cry spell. I’d known I would have to have his blessing on this, but I hadn’t been aware just how important it was until right now. I needed to know he’d be OK with the idea of me packing up and moving so far away from his parents. I needed to know he would be OK with me putting me first. “That means a lot,” I told him. “Thank you.”