Steve considers this, then nods. "The way I see it, your past shapes you. No matter what happens in it, it helps to form who you are today, whether by . . . damaging you in some way, or by teaching you what not to do, or, or cushioning you from certain harsh truths.

"I was married for eight years. My husband was killed, and I never got the chance to bury him. That taught me not to take love for granted. Anything can happen, no matter what kind of life you lead, and you should always appreciate the love you have. And the thought of losing someone like that again is scary, it's terrifying. But the alternative, being alone, I can't . . . I can't do that to myself, or to his memory."