In New York City on March 13, 2014, Addie follows Henry to a crowded, noisy Brooklyn bar called the Merchant. They squeeze onto a narrow back patio under an awning, close enough that Addie must lean in to hear him.

Over shared fries and happy-hour beers, Henry asks where Addie is from. Henry says he is from upstate New York, Newburgh, and Addie answers “Villon-sur-Sarthe,” explaining away her lack of accent by saying she moved around.

Addie thinks about how little Henry’s bookstore job pays, and she resists the urge to steal better drinks for them because she has already lied about the wallet and does not want to pull more tricks, especially after what happened at The Odyssey. Beneath the small talk, Addie is frightened to let Henry out of her sight, fearing that any misstep will make the curse reassert itself and erase her from Henry’s memory.

When Henry asks for “a penny for your thoughts,” Addie forces herself to stay present and tries to enjoy the moment even as she believes it cannot last. Henry then asks what single thing Addie would want if she could have one thing, studying her with focused curiosity.

Addie silently thinks that she wants this—Henry remembering her and the possibility of connection—but she answers instead by lifting her empty glass and asking for another beer.