"You too," he whispered back, knowing instantly that it was completely, utterly true.

He watched her face, smiled wider as she did, and brought her hand to his lips, kissing it softly. The smooth fabric against his mouth sparked a memory, and he paused there, eyes half open, trying to catch it, finding nothing.

He shut his eyes and kept his lips there, soaking in the phantom feeling of excitement, of accomplishment, of love and confidence. Attaching it to nothing.

This felt like so much closer to who he was.