When We Were

by Diana Elliot Graham

Mostly, I’m just here for the company, and she tosses out the inquiries more to just involve me in the process than out of any actual necessity.

Oh, to see through the eyes of a romance novelist.

Arden, what are you talking about when I ended things?

but I didn’t dump you

He drew clear lines around who we were post breakup, and I never crossed them.

I never missed an opportunity to quip about how he basically worked for a supervillain.

After ten minutes, the bubble never reappeared.

My initials are ungendered and detached; they let me email with the power of a man.

Oh great, at least someone’s working today besides me.

If any of what happened is referenced in your friend’s book, I expect to be included in the dedication.

Less an invitation, more a challenge.

Paired with a shrug, I’ve offered up this stranger a taste of validation and indifference in one interaction.

Not outright asking me if I was a.) hungry b.) wanted to go.

“You seem pretty confident that you have me all figured out.”

One, I didn’t dump her. Two, these are very different from the three words we used to say.

my new friend has to understand that this book is one of my best friends.

“Are you in the habit of testing your friends?” “How do you think they become my friends?”