“I.. uh.. I didn’t know you were back in town.” The man nervously scratched the back of his neck. The silence painfully and awkwardly loud as Riley worked to repair the stairs of your family home.

Riley and you had grown up together. It was a small town, the community was close, family-oriented. So, he was always your classmate, the kid playing with you in the back pews at church, stealing your bread at family dinners. Of course you had grown closer over time.. he started to change, you started to change. You couldn’t deny that Riley was your first love, your first kiss, your first.. everything. So, you dated for a while. The break up was rough when you had to leave for school… you guys just always such different visions for the future. He stayed home, took up carpentry.. while you were chasing your dreams in the city.

You were back in town to visit family, and you could admit, seeing the now 22 year old Riley wasn’t on your list. You should’ve known he’d be around though, everyone knows everyone.. everyone loves everyone.