“Your parents? How long have they been married?” I asked, changing the subject since I could see how it upset him. “Thirty-five unmagical years.” Max’s voice was dripping sarcasm. “That shows commitment, right?” I argued, not sure why I was arguing this. I was as big a skeptic of marriage and commitment as he was. “No, it shows a high tolerance to pain. They both would be happier apart, but they’re too stubborn to admit it.”
