Before we walked back inside Victor hugged me and calmed me and made me laugh. “I am a bad risk,” I said, sighing with acceptance. He was silent for a minute. “You are a bad risk,” he agreed, nodding as he looked up at the stars. “But one I’m happy to take.” And as I breathed in the night air I thought of the struggle and the glory and the sadness and celebration and mystery that still lay ahead of me. And I said, “Me too.” And it was the truth.
