Lug stepped out of the shower and was faced with a crucial choice.

What was the best outfit - or the least bad - he had?

His choice - fortunately for Hannah who was waiting in the car - was limited.

He only had clothes he used for work, a few t-shirts bought in thrift stores with letters from forgotten rock bands, that Lug didn't even know.

His choice was the black t-shirt which was the most discreet, the pants the least damaged and of course the only pair of shoes he had left.

Before joining Hannah in her car, Lug checked one last time his breath.

He blew into his hand.

Everything looked good.

He'd been brushing his teeth for 10 minutes, so much so that his gums had started to bleed.

"Ironic that I'm bleeding more over a date with Hannah than for my training." he thought.

As he entered the car, the light inside lit up.

Hannah wasn't dressed any differently, she was wearing her trusty coat, a pair of thick leg tights and a black skirt.

In fact, perhaps she was dressed up for the evening.

That thought added pressure to Lug's already burdened shoulders.

"I really made no effort, why did I say yes...?" he thought as he shook his right leg slightly.

Hannah started the car.

"I found a restaurant that looks really nice. Do you eat meat?" she asked, staring at the road.

"Yes, I eat everything." answered Lug, rubbing his hands together in front of the vent that was spewing hot air.

"Great, I don't know what I would have done if you had said no!" she said with a smile on her face.

After only 15 minutes, they arrived in front of the restaurant.

Lug wished the car ride had lasted longer.

That it never ended.

Lug loved car trips, especially in the evening.

Looking at the stars, or if not, at the lights of the street lamps.

Dreaming of another life.

Or of the future of the one he had learned to appreciate: his own.

But it was no longer the time to dream.

Lug was now facing the menu card.

"Damn, I was in my head." Lug thought, he hadn't been paying attention to his surroundings.

Turning his head around, he saw that the restaurant looked fancy.

Tablecloths at the tables, wine glasses, several choices of cutlery.

And the people were dressed up.

He shook his leg again.

He had observed the whole room, the conclusion was clear, sharp and severe : Lug was the most poorly dressed.

So much so that he attracted attention.

The looks people gave him were like needles in his back.

At this point, he began to strengthen his brain.

Lug reacted very badly to stress.

Maybe using reinforcement was a reflex he had developed to protect himself.

A way for him to remember that he is not a loser.

That he was worth something.

That he had skills.

"You chose?" asked Hannah.

Suddenly, Lug calmed down.

He stopped his reinforcement before he gave himself a headache.

He raised his eyes to look at Hannah.

"There are too many choices." he replied.

Hannah smiled and advised him to choose randomly.

"That's how I do it when I don't know what to do." she said.

Then she brought her face closer, placed her hand on the side of her mouth and added in a whisper.

"I can't handle doubt, letting go is kind of my way of avoiding too much stress."

These words took the pressure off of Lug.

Hannah seemed more human to him all of a sudden.

The rest of the evening was much quieter and happier for Lug.

They laughed, drank some wine and ate well.

Then Hannah drove Lug back to the cemetery.

"Shall we take a little walk, to digest?" said Hannah, putting her hand on her stomach.

"Good idea." Lug replied.

They walked guided by the rays of the moon.

"Thanks for helping me. You know… For the story with my great grandmother." Hannah said, mumbling.

She seemed embarrassed to bring up the subject.

"It was my pleasure." replied Lug.

Hannah looked up at the moon, then looked around.

"Come on, let's sit here. The moon looks great from there!" she said as she took Lug's arm to follow her.

They sat down on a large rock on the edge of the dirt road they were following.

After a few minutes of silence, Hannah brought up a new sensitive topic.

"Do you remember what you said to me right after you lost your memory?" she said.

Lug turned his head to look at her.

"I said a lot of things."

"You told me you'd forgotten about me, but the only thing you were sure of was that you liked me a lot." said Hannah as she nervously pulled her tights up slightly at her calf.

Lug blushed.

"I... Yeah... It wasn't really that actually." Lug began, stammering.

"Lug. Don't go back with your head on something you said with your heart." said Hannah.

Lug didn't know what to say.

He felt like his heart was going to explode.

"I think it's sad that you have to wait until you lose your memory to say nice things to me." she added as she stood up.

"It's getting late, I'm going home." she said.

Lug walked her to her car, then watched her drive away.

He didn't blame himself for not saying anything.

Even the part of him that was usually so quick to make him feel guilty, was silent.

Lug returned home.

Some hours before, victorious.

Now, he was defeated.