The Do-Over

by Lynn Painter

I was so good that my parents didn’t have to worry about me. So they didn’t. At all.

It was kind of amazing, witnessing Nick looking totally happy. I was almost overcome with the desperate need to do whatever necessary to make him like that all the time.

this wasn’t about boys and girls and love and attraction, this was about a human soul needing to feel seen.

Nothing makes you feel alone quite like thinking you’re the only one who is alone.”

I mean, yes, we hadn’t known each other long, but I felt like I knew more about him than so many people who were important parts of my life. I felt like he knew me. And I rarely felt that from anyone.

I’d always lived to please everyone else, but who would ever do what I really wanted, if not me?

Because my favorite place was now stained with memories of him.

“I remember everything about you, Em.” The crack in his voice brought my eyes back to his face. “I do.” His voice was raspy when he said, “I remember the ‘Thong Song,’ the breathy sound of your voice after I kiss you, and the way you kissed my nose when you thought I was sad.”

I had a marvelous time ruining everything