“Sure,” he said. “But Willem, don’t tell the others, okay? I just want to sit with it for a while.” “I won’t say a word. I’ll see you tomorrow. And Jude—” But he didn’t, or couldn’t, say anything else. “I know,” he said. “I know, Willem. I feel the same way.” “I love you,” said Willem, and then he was gone before he had to respond. He never knew what to say when Willem said that to him, and yet he always longed for him to say it.
