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“I think it's a fountain maybe?” She tilts her head as she looks around the sculpture, eyes squinting.

“I’m pretty sure it’s a urinal.”

She rears back as if it’s an active one. “What?” she gasps.

I cover my laugh with a cough, “Yeah, that’s a toilet, babe.”

Her eyes widen and her mouth opens once before closing again. “Okay well, itisinteresting.”

“You can say weird. It’s just us here. I won’t get offended.”

“It’s notallweird, you liked that creepy spider sculpture.” She points an accusing finger at me and I feel a weightlessness in my body like I’ve never felt before.

A handful of sculptures later we find a dimly lit room with four large paintings, one for each wall. “Pick your favorite,” she says, and her eyes sparkle.

I look at each frame carefully, knowing she’s going to ask me to defend my choice.

“This one.” I point to an all-black canvas with light strokes of gray slashed across it.

She presses her fingers to her lips trying to hide her smile. “Hmmm…A Moment of Death. What made you choose this one?”

“I knew what it was without reading the title. That one over there looks like a bowl of spaghetti and it’s supposed to be about a farmer.”

“They're meant to make youthink.”

We stand side by side in the shadow of the room. “Well, what do you think Camila? Does that look like death?”

“This might possibly be the least romantic date conversation I’ve ever had.” She smiles. “I don’t know, I guess I like to think we live multiple lives. So for me, a picture of death would have some kind of light on the other side.”

“What do you mean multiple lives?”

“Just what it sounds like. I think maybe we live different lifetimes over and over again.”

“Like reincarnation?”

“Kind of, but I think that one is more karma-based, and while I totally believe in karma as well, it’s just kind of cool to think that maybe we meet new people in every lifetime or maybe we meet some people over and over again, you know?”

I shouldn’t be surprised by how mesmerized I am by her but I find myself wanting to know her thoughts on everything. I never want these conversations with her to end. I realize I’ve just been staring at her when she rolls her eyes and says, “Okay, all-knowing one, what do you think happens when you die?”

I exhale a deep breath and look back at the painting. “I don't know. Black. Nothing. A deep sleep with zero dreams?”

“I’m honestly not surprised by that answer.” Her face is the picture of mirth and my stomach bottoms out when I look at her. When we went into this arrangement, I told her I didn't and would never want a relationship but everything about her has taken me by surprise. Being with Camila feels like home. And not the home that I grew up in, but a home for my soul.

“Thank you,Miles. That was the best date I’ve ever been on. Bar none.” Camila's hand holds mine as she leans against me in the back seat of the car.

“Even with the morbid death talk?”

“Surprisingly, even with the death talk.” The corner of her lip twitches and she lets out a small huff.

“Sounds like you’ve dated some real winners,” I deadpan.

“I’ve dated people…that I thought I should.” I look at her now, and my body tenses. “In high school, this guy asked me out, and I didn’t really know him, but I felt bad so I said yes.” She pauses while twisting that pendant across her necklace. “We dated for about a month before he realized he was wasting his time and finally broke up with me.”

“I can promise you, time with you could never be wasted, Camila.” Her eyes are distant. “That was it? High school was your last boyfriend?” I ask, feeling relieved.

“No. I dated in college too. Casually.” This has me clenching my fist, but I listen intently. “But just like with that high school boyfriend, I always felt like I was justthere. None of them brought any value to my life, and I don’t know, I always just felt like an accessory. Does that make sense?”

“Yes.” But I wish it didn’t. As much as I can’t stand to think of her with anyone else, the thought of her being unhappy tears me up even more. How could anyone be with her and not worship the ground she walks on? Her heart is so big, and anyone being with her just to pass the time makes me want to shove my fist into a wall. She deserves the world and then some.