I feel a lot better, thank you.

Agnes?

Yes?

Before you came home, we talked. I burnt the meat. Peter said they missed me at cross-country.

He said—he said I’m the luckiest person he knows.

What did you say in return?

Put it away…I told you I am the luckiest person on earth. All because of you… I love you, Agnes

Thank you, Justin. I love you, too.

You do?

Justin? What exactly are we talking about?

Love. I love you. I’m madly in love with you. Well, madly obviously, given I’m mad as a mudlark. But you saved my life. I’m dead without you. And you’re so good to me. And you love me, too. How lucky is that? Amazing! Amazingly lucky. I can’t live without you. You’re my lucky charm.

I’m not your lucky charm, Justin—

Have some pork. Oh yes you are. You’re my four-leaf clover. My rabbit’s foot. My amulet. Without you I’m completely at the mercy of the forces of doom—

I am not your lucky charm! Do you hear me, Justin Case?       

But I love you, Agnes. I need you. I’m lost without you.

Justin, you know it’s not true.

You don’t understand! […] Without you I would have been killed. What if it happens again?

Try not to think about it. It will never happen again. 

How you do know that?

I just… I have a definite feeling.

A feeling isn’t good enough!

I know you think I’m crazy but you must realize I can see certain things more clearly than you can […] I’m not lucky. At least on my own I’m not […] And you saved my life, I don’t know how you did it, but you did. And also you’re so…

Justin, please try to understand […] I do love you, in a way, because you’re interesting and sweet— but at the same time I’m quite worried about your mental state […] I’m not in love with you, and I’m sorry if it makes you feel bad because I know you’ve been through so much lately, but I have to say the truth […] it’s not the end of the world.

Not yet.