As Simone recounted her tale, Lewis stroked her hair. For a moment, he wondered what it would have been like if Edwin had found a way to break the curse, and they could have been happy together. He wondered, then, where he might have been. After all, it was because of Simone that he had grown as a person.

Simone looked up at him as he had these thoughts, and bapped him on the nose. “It doesn’t matter what could have been,” she said. “It only matters what it.”

Lewis looked down at her, a little surprised. “Did you just…” His furrowed brow changed to a smile. “I think the tickle monster has one more victim to go…” He grabbed at Simone’s sides, starting to tickle her as he pinned her down.