After recounting just a little of the amazing man that was his Lewis, he looked at the other. He didn't seem to feel any better but he was opening up. Francis leaned back in his chair and studied his own wine though it bared jo secrets or interesting self reflections. "That's not fair to Linus, unless there's more to the story. It's stupid that patience is free but people are so greedy with their time and attention. But he gave it to you, you deserved it in his eyes. Maybe you were his Lewis. After all.."

He sipped from the glass just a small amount, barely enough to taste. "No one else loved Lewis. I don't know why, and I don't care. Maybe it was something that had to grow from our childhood into what it was? You can't just stumble into it. I'm not an expert on love. But.."

He gestured to malachi. "You have hope to find a Lewis since you haven't yet. I lost mine. So life hasn't mattered since." He took a deeper sip.