WHEN WE COLLIDE

TER

counter with June. My plans were to go to the bar tonight h

o set me up with till she explained who she was and what she wanted. W

I saw her sitting at the corner of the room. I immediately recognized her as the girl

e didn't know it was me either, that left a lingering question on my mind. Would s

e took down notes. She looked so peaceful doing her j

akes me feel something

ut this, someone who might understand. Without really thinking ab

ason's voice is casual,

ng a bit. "You won't bel

he says, soun

I blurt out, still trying

en Mason asks, "June? The same June

supposed to be baking my sist

he full story. How'd that even happen?" he

dn't know who she was at first. Then my mom gives me her number, and we agree to meet at The Grove. I

ent, listeni

om. I immediately recognize her as the girl from the bar last night. I

ou serious?" M

idea who the other was. It was... une

Did she recogniz

licked. The look on her face when she realized it was me... pri

d. So, what's the deal with her?

man. She's different. There's something abo

how?" Mas

also this softness. Like she's been through a lot but is still standing strong. I don't kno

hings she doesn't want to talk

now this?" I

ore I went to her house. Sh

I'm an open book

silence before he says, "You know, this

"Oh, man. That was foreve

ber that stupid summer camp

th your nose always stuck in a book, and I was the idiot trying t

I remember watching you climb up there, thinking

bit of both," I ad

ere hurt, I was the one who ran over to see if you were

s okay. You started talking to me about all sorts of random things to distract

ho taught me how to loosen up a bit,

ach other ever since," I say,

on agrees. "So, what's the p

ink I want to see her again, but I'm not sure how to go about it. I don'

e's as interesting as you say, she'll apprecia

say, feeling a bit more at ease

u know I've got y

ves. As we wrap up the call, I realize just how much I value having Mason in my corner. We've

an't help but feel like maybe this is just the beginning of

the conversation with Mason last night, or maybe it was just the uneasy feeling I had about the wh

the streets are always empty. It's a place I know well, having grown up there. But every time I

tional rollercoaster this visit might bring, but I step out anyway and make my way to the porc

pecting you," she says

drop by," I mumble, tryi

er eyes filled with warmth. "It's

ough the house. It's comforting, but there's something else-a tens

ething?" I ask, tryi

sure if you'd be hungry," she says, leading me int

out in front of him. He looks up when we enter, his expressi

he says, his

acks, my jaw ti

g terms, and whenever we do talk, it never ends well. The

didn't know you were coming, otherwise I

e. I can feel my stomach knotting up, the old

y younger sister, Esme, appears in the doorway. She must have just woken up, her hair st

ive me a hug. She's almost ten now, but she

of the tension ease away. "

u were coming over," she say

with a small smile. "Ju

le and her smile falters for a moment.

tone light. "Yeah, I thought

r shoulders, giving her a reassuring squeeze. Esme has always been a bit more sensitive than me-s

ighten the mood. "Why don't we all

l move to the table. The tension is still thick, b

out school and her friends. Dad chimes in occasionally, but mostly it's just

So, Esme, have you been working on any new art proje

ng on a new painting. It's of a forest, but I'm trying

genuinely interested. "I'd l

we're just a normal family having a normal l

you about something," he starts, and I

ask, keeping m

w we've had our differences, but I've been thinking... may

. "Start fresh? You can't just say th

e a bit more forceful now. "But I'm trying,

I know she hates it when we fight. I take a d

ace for this conversation," I sa

miah's right. Let's just focus on h

at Esme and seems to think better of it. He nods, pick

er, Esme offers to help Mom with the dishes, and I take the opportuni

g here, trying to play nice, pretending that everything is fine when it's not. But then I thin

t