[He'd always had a thing for unavailable women. Except, as far as he'd been concerned, Vesper had always been available. James rubs his hands together lightly, staring at the floor in front of him.]

She loved me. She stopped wearing his necklace, before the end. Told me that sometimes, you can forget the past. [He shifts, reaching into his pocket and drawing out the Algerian love knot again, running his thumb over it.]

I tried to convince myself she didn't. I thought losing her would hurt less, then.