We were in Aidan’s bedroom, drowning in the teal walls. “Dude, c’mon. I don’t wanna mother you. You have to get your summer reading done,â€? I told him. “C’mon. Let’s read.â€? We lay down on his bed, his arms around me. Silence. “You done?â€?

“Yeah.â€? He flipped the page.

With the page, the scene in front of me changed. I began to grow frantic. I knew that those memories would never come back. Those moments were long gone and there wasn’t room in the future for more. At least, nothing compared.

Hunter sensed my body tensing up. I wasn’t about to cry. I had to be strong. There’s no point dwelling in the past, I had once said. But like most people, I never truly followed my own advice. I’ve never acknowledged the fact that I do dwell. Constantly. Hunter then said, “Look at you. You used to be so happy and carefree. But something happened, didn’t it? Something that changed you. You started to look stressed all the time. It’s like there’s always something you’re worrying about.â€? Where have I heard that before?