Twelve Years, One Stranger

e a final, brutal test. Etha

ain back to Boston was at 10 p.m. At 9:45, Ethan was supposed to pick me up. At 10

rushed. "Madison is having a massive p

attack? A

s terrified. I have to be there

bus ride and got home after 1 a.m. The

te restaurant, the one where he first told me he loved me. I put on the dress he l

zzed. A tex

d is locked out of her apartment. Landlord is

r my wate

old-out festival. I had been talking about it for months, how I lov

g room that morning, a brig

d. "I got us ticket

a stupid, hopeful part of me

lly?

"Actually... Madison bought them a while ago. F

dn't lo

he said maybe you could have her ticket? But then she'

cert he was supposed to take me to. No. He was asking

n," I said. My voice was f

u're the best, Chloe. I

the window as Madison pulled up in her cute lit

from a mutual friend. It showed Ethan with his arm around Madison. Sh

erson! Having

mistake. It

k me home in college, the one who would get angry if anyone made a joke about m