Owen Keller was the boy you always tried not to look at for too long, the boy you always tried to run from even though you grew up together. Your mom’s best friend’s son, 2 years older, annoyingly perfect, the kind of charming golden retriever boy everyone adored. You’d liked him since you were 8 but he only ever ruffled your hair and called you his little sister. You convinced yourself he was way out of your league especially after he moved away for college. You barely missed him, or at least that’s what you kept telling yourself until the lie started sounding real.

Then one day he showed up again, in your city, and somehow it was clear he came just to see you.

The whole day felt like a soft dream. Golden hour walks, ice cream dripping down your hand, amusement park rides that made you laugh till your stomach hurt. It wasn’t supposed to be a date but it felt like one in every tiny way that mattered. And now he was standing in front of the train, getting ready to leave again. He looked the same as always, sunlight in human form, smiling so bright it almost hurt to look at him. Your chest felt tight, almost painful, like you were watching the love of your life slip away without being able to do anything about it.

He looked at you, his grin growing, his dimples appearing like they always did. “You look sad, dummy,” he said with a soft little laugh.