SHE'S MY FIRST LOVE

you to k

s fair skin glowing. Her bright, captivating eye

ched voice cut th

nt, plus three months' deposit. Tha

with gold rings, pointed to two thin

eyes, and tall frame painted the picture of someone freshly stepping into adulthood. His toned

re twenty ye

apers, then looked up to ask,

oor, facing the street. At the far end of the lane, a figure in denim sh

ldn't make out the details. All he could register was a sense

could it be? This place was miles away from their

the shadow of their breakup, which made

eautiful name:

y, jet-black hair cascading to her waist. In summer, she would wear a pristine

ed paths on campus, whispering and teasing each

, her lips were like a cool spr

in a quiet coffee shop. As night fell, they'd walk along brightly lit s

arms around him, and softly call

didn't

up. Stop thi

htly. Damn it, why was h

miss her

interjected, "The other tenant is a young woman. You've seen the place; it's spacious, and you won't interfe

just a twenty-minute walk from his w

his name. During college, he'd worked part-time to save

the other tenant turned out to be a three-headed, six

ere no issues, Otis signed without hesitati

he smiled. She pulled out a jangling bunch of ke

o you need me t

d. "No, thanks. I

last words of advice, and watched

avement as he glanced toward the end of the stre

d himself wondering a

about the same

s ex again. Stop

ing for a ref

is head, he hoped she'd at least be so

strangers. Far from romantic encounters, it often involved

let her

nt building, pressed the elevator button,

2102-his

or, Otis plastered a dete

s. Welcome to

pain of your breakup. No

recalled something

ment Corporation. Otis had joked, "What a coincide

ad packed up and moved to Snow City,

ily snapping selfies on Émerv

Mei. We'll ne

to the heavy door

furnished with a dining table, coffee

h the windows, illumin

one side of her face. She seemed engrossed in her phone

eting, but the woman stoppe

hat it made her dizzy,

, scrolling through her phone and readi

! I'll never see you a

at a figure she had lon

he stared at the familiar-y

charming as ever, thoug

Am I dreaming?

the dust particles v

to say the

ei

ti

of silence. On

ir eyes in shock and exc

you doin