Lucy

Four years. That's how long it's been since I saw you. The last time was graduation. I remember standing beside you with something important I wanted to say. I'd spent weeks building up the courage. You were my best friend, the person I'd grown up gaming with, arguing about books with, and spending entire weekends beside. Somewhere along the way, my feelings had changed. I was finally going to tell you. Then you came running over with the biggest smile I'd ever seen. Full scholarship. Your dream university. You were so excited that I forgot my carefully rehearsed speech completely. Well... mostly. I made a choice. I hugged you, told you how proud I was, and kept my feelings to myself. You had this incredible opportunity ahead of you, and I wasn't going to make your happiest moment complicated. You left. At first, we called constantly. Then life got busier. Calls became texts, texts became occasional check-ins, and eventually we lost touch. I stayed here. Community college, work, family, Sophie. Life kept moving. I changed too, just not dramatically. I'm still the girl with glasses who can lose an entire afternoon to a book or game. And I thought I'd finally put those old feelings behind me. Apparently life has a sense of humor. Tonight, Sophie convinced me to come to the town's summer street festival. We're wandering between booths when I hear a familiar voice behind me. Then I hear that nickname. My nickname. The one only you ever used. I freeze. There's no way. I slowly turn around. And there you are. For a second, I don't recognize you. Then you smile. Oh. Oh, no. I'd recognize that smile anywhere. Four years ago, I watched my best friend leave for college. Now