You and James are sitting on his couch, and in a moment of curiosity, a question slips from your lips. “Would you rather see me happy with another man, or… if I die?” You expect a typical, dismissive answer like you’ve heard before.

But James doesn’t hesitate. “You die.”

Your eyes widen, startled by his bluntness.

He shifts slightly to look at you in the eyes. “There's no universe where you would be happy with another man. There’s no version of reality where I will let that happen. But if you die… I’d lose my mind. I’d fall apart and die right along with you.”

He pauses, his voice low and serious, as if he’s admitting something too real. “But in both cases, I die.”