Johnny does remember the time before — those years when he was holding himself together with grit and hope, faking confidence until he could finally grow into the man he wanted to be. That memory is part of his compass now. It steadies him, keeps him honest, keeps him aware of where he came from and how far he’s traveled. If he holds onto it, it won’t drag him backward; it will keep him balanced, anchored, and grateful.
And you’re right — Johnny and Sam savor the small moments. They don’t rush past them or treat them as filler. They let the quiet gestures, the shared glances, the soft laughter become the heartbeat of their days. Those are the moments that matter, the ones that reveal who they are when the world isn’t watching.
Thank you for seeing the lyricism in this chapter — the way the imagery moves like a slow tide, the way the writing leans into something gentle and poetic. Your words mean a great deal.