I...never knew... He always... He's always been so alone. Mom says...it took her years to realize...he was even there, when he moved in. I never thought he'd...

[ It's silly now, thinking about it. He'd had a whole life before her. Of course he would have other important people in his life, other loves. It's presumptuous to think of it like that, that Howl would love her, a girl he's known for less than two years. But still...

Still.

She listens. As it all falls apart, she listens, perhaps to the reason he's so determined. The reason he's so...giving to them. ]