This chapter was full of tender and joyful parts. But the part that actually made me react the most was this:

>>he tried to relax. Roy kept pushing, slowly, inch by inch, and Al had one
thought: I'm dying.<<

I burst out with laughter before i knew it. I have a long ago memory very similar to that. And it's so true.

The previous chapter. When they were planting. They talked about etching a new array into a tree and talked about possible outcomes. Was that allegorical to the new step they were about to take in their relationship. And the possible outcomes of it?

as always, love to read your work. thanks so much.