I could give you a happy ending right here, given about three minutes and sufficient focus.

[ He waggles his eyebrows, making a joke of it, because happy endings haven't featured predominantly in his life. Ajay being here now feels like the closest he'll get, and more than he deserves; one last, great love before he reaches old age. But if he can make it permanent - if he can make Ajay stay - then he'll die happy, and until then he'll devote every waking moment to making sure Ajay is happy too.

The thought hits him with a lot more force than he was prepared for, sticks in his throat like a bite of poisoned apple for how impossible it seems, and he's suddenly quite glad Ajay is leaning on his shoulder and can't see his face. ]

I don't know. But you've certainly given me a happier now than I ever would have thought possible.