He hadn’t expected Sarah to be assigned the
seat in front of him.
Listening to her talk to Maddie.
Breathing in the subtle floral scent that clung
to her.
He stayed behind after school.
Waiting for Sarah to finish studying.
He knew she’d wake him. Maddie had told her
about the school locking the gates.
And she did.
Unable to help himself, looking at her
beautiful face so close, he blurted out,
“Thanks, wifey.”
Then, catching her stunned expression, he’d
smirked and walked away, trying to play it
cool.
<
- 2.
Back at his apartment.
He dreamed of his childhood.
He was seven. He and his mom came home
to the sounds of his father’s voice and a
woman’s giggles coming from inside.
Then, the woman’s frightened cries, his
mom’s heartbroken sobs, and his father’s
angry shouts.
He’d run in, wanting to protect his mom.
His father had shoved him into his room and
locked the door.
The sounds of smashing glass and yelling
echoed from outside.
Then, silence.
Sarah had opened the door.
She’d hugged him close as he huddled in the
corner, terrified.
She’d brought him a bag of candy, her
tavorite.
She didn’t know what had happened, but she
knew it was something that scared all
children.
Later that evening, his parents came back.
Each holding a small red book and a stack of
legal documents.
His mother, her eyes red and swollen, packed
a bag and bought a one–way ticket overseas.
His father had sneered and left with his
secretary.
Leaving him alone.
His grandparents picked him up late that
night.
Sitting in the car, he desperately tried to
memorize the route back to his old
apartment.
But by the next morning, it was gone.
He tried to go back again, but his
grandparents, thinking he was trying to find
<
He tried to go back again, but his
grandparents, thinking he was trying to find his parents, stopped him with a sad sigh.
He just wanted to find Sarah.
He knew, even at seven, that his parents had
abandoned him.
- 3.
The city was huge.
So vast that even after years of searching,
relying on fragmented memories, he couldn’t
find his way back to their old apartment.
The city was small.
Small enough that he found Sarah again.
A reunion of childhood sweethearts.
And love at first sight.
Summer never really fades, and some
connections are destined to be rediscovered.
