The clock passed 9:35 and still Theo held my gaze. By then the speakers had ceased taking turns and begun shouting over each other. Theo trembled sweetly as he stifled a giggle. I wasn’t even aware that I was smiling back until my cheeks began to ache.
None of this mattered; none of it was real. That was the truth that only Theo and I could see. That was the hilarity of it, the joy of it.
The protesters stopped shouting over each other and began chanting as one.
“We stand with Wanda! We stand with Wanda!”
With the entire row in front of me standing, my view of Theo was blocked. I stood, trying to catch a glimpse of him between bodies. He was laughing. So, uncontrollably, was I.