What did you even say to that? For the first time in a very long while, Emilie couldn't think of anything to say. She wanted to. She wished. She couldn't relate in the slightest. Her mother? She honestly felt as if she wouldn't mind never seeing her again. But she knew what it was like to lose someone, and to hold on to the barest scraps of the most unpleasant memories.

Finally, while nuzzling into his shoulder she asked, "And that's why you keep it? To remember to be different?"