The room went too bright, too loud, like my senses couldn’t decide what to do with reality.
Emily’s eyes were huge. “Do you want me to message him? Should I tell him where you are?”
I opened my mouth. Nothing came out.
“The last update was Sunday.”
So I did what I’ve always done: tried to shrink it.
“It might not be him,” I said. “It could be old.”
Emily gave me a look that said, Please don’t lie to yourself.
“Miss Anne,” she said gently, “he updates it every week. The last update was Sunday.”
Sunday.
A few days ago.
Hope and fear tangled so tight I couldn’t separate them.
So he wasn’t reminiscing. He was still looking.
I felt something stir under my ribs—hope and fear tangled so tight I couldn’t separate them.
Emily waited, absolutely still, like if she moved I’d retreat.
Finally, I exhaled. “Okay.”
“Okay as in yes?”
“Yes,” I said, voice shaking. “Message him.”
It’s humiliating how quickly your brain can turn back into a teenager.
Emily nodded like a professional.
“I’ll be careful,” she said. “Public place. Daytime. Boundaries. I’m not getting you abducted, Miss Anne.”
Despite myself, I laughed. It came out shaky and wet.
“Thank you,” I said. “Truly.”
That night, I stood in front of my closet like it was an exam I hadn’t studied for.
It’s humiliating how quickly your brain can turn back into a teenager.
“You are 62. Act like it.”
I held up sweaters. Rejected them. Put them back. Pulled them out again.
I stared at my hair in the mirror and muttered, “You are 62. Act like it.”
Then I called my hairdresser anyway.
The next day, after the final bell, Emily slipped into my classroom with a conspiratorial smile.
“He replied,” she whispered.
My heart jumped. “What did he say?”
I nodded before my fear could overtake me.
She showed me the screen.
“‘If it’s really her, please tell her I’d like to see her. I’ve been waiting a long time.'”
My throat tightened.
Emily said, “Saturday? Two p.m.? The café near the park?”
I nodded before my fear could overtake me. “Yes. Saturday.”
She typed quickly, then grinned. “He said yes. He’ll be there.”
