She cried silently on the video chat, tears running down, sniffles, and gasps for air. "I... n..know. I can... do this."

"Listen, it's not personal. It's just that the last time this happened to me, I lost a friend. We used to be close and then it ended. …

My hand was cold like a fish. Both were almost numb from the autumn wind blowing as we walked down the sidewalk that night.

It was the first time we had been alone in... well, ever, come to think of it. Every time we had been together before, we had had …

I remember that night vividly.

Do you?

I remember what you wore: a black t-shirt with a short denim skirt and a matching denim jacket that was covered with buttons of all your favorite bands. All ska and punk.

I remember how you smelled. It was exactly…

She mourned him. Not even the real him. She mourned the loss of the fantasy she'd made of him.

In her dreams he said all the right things, had all the right moves, shared the same jokes, had the cutest smile and softest touch. She happily stayed in bed …

I can picture exactly how it would be.

I'd somehow come face to face with the embodiment of him. I'd run into his embrace. It would last a satisfyingly long time.

After some familial chit chat and idle distractions, probably involving a meal and an acti…