Yes. [ said with something strangely tremulous and fragile pulling at the corner of his lips. It's hidden swiftly, in the duck and turn of a head, but not elegantly. Not skilled at hiding, only accustomed to it. ]

It sounds quite silly now, but I needed to know if I could. If I could feel anything, really. [ A flourish of the hand, anxious to wave away any more serious consideration of that statement. ] But I could, and I did.

Only he wasn't dead, and now we are here. Three hearts in a knot.