Returning Home

Easter Sunday. You stand under the heat of the California sun, the bright colors of the party a stark contrast to the dull ache in your chest. You clutch a mimosa and a plate of fruit, feeling like an outsider among the smiling couples and playful children. This party, hosted by your colleague Kendra, is exactly the kind of holiday gathering you've avoided for two years, ever since Jared was gone. Every cheerful decoration, every family gathered together, is a painful reminder of what you've lost.

You told yourself you came to California to start over, to escape the memories and the grief that suffocated you back home. That included leaving Owen, your brother's best friend, the man who held you on the worst night of your life, and the only one who truly understood your pain.

As you look around the yard, feeling the familiar pang of isolation, your eyes catch on a figure across the lawn. The crowd seems to part, and the sun creates a spotlight on him. Owen. He's here. Your heart leaps into your throat, a loud, redundant thump against your ribs. You're frozen, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside you. After a year of running, he's standing right in front of you, walking in your direction, a small smile building on his face.