A bittersweet short story about a lifetime love affair. Henry and Jim have spent a life in love, from the very first date arranged by Henry's sister, through the rocky times they worked to make ends meet, and into their twilight years.<br><br>Old men now, Henry reminisces about the love they've shared as he learns to cope with Jim's fading memory and his own fear of being forgotten by the only man he's ever loved.

Henry and Jim

Two seats, a dime apiece, and he chose one of


the last rows in the back of the theater, away from the shrieking


kids that threw popcorn and candy at the screen. He waited until I


sat down, then plopped into the seat beside mine, his arm draped


casually over the armrest and half in my lap. “Do you bring Betty


here?” I asked, shifting away from him. Better to bring my sister


up like a shield between us, in the drowsy heat and close darkness


of the theater, to remind me why I was there. Betty trusted me,


Jim shrugged, uninterested. As the lights


dimmed and the film began, he crossed his legs, then slid down a


bit in the seat, letting his legs spread apart until the ankle


rested on his knee. His leg shook with nervous energy, jostling the


seat in front of him and moving at the edges of my vision, an


annoying habit, distracting, and when I couldn’t stand it any


longer, I put my hand on his knee to stop it. As if he had been


Chapter 2