Maybe, he pondered as he ascended the stairs, that's my problem with Kathy. I can't remember our combined past: can't recall the days when we voluntarily lived with each other... now it's become an involuntary arrangement, derived God knows how from the past.
The narrator reflects on his complicated relationship with Kathy, highlighting a sense of loss regarding their shared history. He struggles to remember the joyful times they once spent together, which makes their current living situation feel forced and disconnected from their past.
This contemplation leads to a deeper understanding of their relationship's transformation. What was once a choice to live together has now become a necessity shaped by circumstances beyond his control, leaving him to question how they arrived at this point. The quote captures the essence of nostalgia and the tension between past and present in human connections.
