The room was a mess of faces I didn’t care to remember. Laughter bounced off the walls like it had a purpose, but it was all just noise to me. I stood by the snack table, picking at pretzels I didn’t want, a glass of water in my other hand because booze had lost its charm somewhere along the way.

Julie’s birthday, or maybe it was a reunion—I didn’t know. I didn’t really care. I was here because I was supposed to be, but the truth was, I’d rather be anywhere else. I was about to make my exit when I felt it—someone’s eyes on me.

I turned around, and there she was. Olivia. Liv. It’s been years, but time didn’t erase her from me. She was standing there, the same, but different. Just like me. I felt something inside tighten, then loosen, like a punch you don’t see coming.

“Olivia?” I said, surprised, but more than that, something like longing clawed at my insides. She smiled, that half-smile she used to give when she was trying to act tough, and I felt like a damn fool for still caring.

“Renz. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Yeah, Julie insisted. Said I should catch up.” Catch up—what a joke. The past was a weight you could never outrun, no matter how fast you tried to live.

We stood there, sizing each other up like we were back in...