Saving Rain

by Kelsey Kingsley

Ray pulled a box from the refrigerator and opened it, revealing a cake that was the perfect size for three. The sight of it brought on the same emotions I had felt a year ago, when Harry gave me a slice of pizza on my thirtieth birthday. God, how was that only one year ago? It hit me all at once, all of a sudden, that it was possible for guys like me to be surrounded by good people. People unrelated by blood. People who’d made the choice to know me and like me, simply for being myself, despite the shit I’d been convicted of. “Are you okay?” Ray asked, eyeing me with concern. Realizing my eyes had begun to tear up, I cleared my throat and blinked them away. “Yeah,” I said, nodding. “All good.” “Okay,” she said with a smile before calling Noah back to the table. They sang “Happy Birthday,” and we ate the cake, which was delicious. After, it was Noah’s bedtime and mine, and I had a cat to feed. So, I wished them both a good night and counted the thirteen steps between her place and mine, knowing that it undoubtedly was a very, very good night.