Annelise Valentine's gaze was fixed on the tattoo—a simple line drawing of a fish, right above his heart.
'He's seven years older than me; how could he really be a blank slate? Was I pushing too hard just now, being too relentless with my questions?'
'What he said seemed right, too. You can't just keep dwelling on the past.'
'He was willing to tattoo my symbol on the spot closest to his heart. Isn't that gesture meaningful enough?'
'Am I really being too difficult? Insisting on digging up the past, dredging up old grievances just to make us both miserable. When you're in a relationship, is it better to just be a little oblivious and hold on to the good things in the present?'
These thoughts raced through her mind, like she was having an argument with herself.
'Forget it,' she told herself.
'Pushing it any further will only create a rift between us.'
