I went in and gave my dad the snack.
“Is it good?”
“Yeah.”
“Ashley didn’t look well. It felt like she didn’t
know about the money.”
I paused.
“Probably. Time passed.”
Later, it rained.
Ashley brought food.
My dad sensed the tension.
Ashley kept her head down.
We ate. Ashley looked awkward.
She said the drunk was handled. She found
an apartment.
I should move out of the complex.
I asked, “Don’t lie. Is it really an apartment?”
Ashley didn’t say anything.
I felt bad. I opened the window.
It was cold.
My nose was stuffed.
I hacked a bit, and said,
“Ashley, it’s been seven years. You’re just
feeling…”
“No.”
Ashley sounded down.
“It’s not just that.”
“I like you.”
“After the transfer…”
“I looked for you.”
“I was happy to see you.”
“I worried it was a dream.”
“I never broke up.”
“Not then, not now.”
“Chad, I didn’t know. I wouldn’t…” Ashley
looked at me, and said, “Did you know about
the money?”
“Does it matter? You knew about the watch,
but you assumed Chad was right.”
“But Ashley, would I?”
Ashley went pale.
She tried to speak.
She realized we wouldn’t fix things.
Ashley said, “I messed up…”
“But I fixed it.”
“Nate,” she cried, “…Don’t break up, okay?”
The wind was cold.
I was exhausted.
I looked at Ashley and asked, “Ashley, can
“I’m not in that world.”
The sun was setting. The halls were dark.
Ashley just stood, and looked at me.
She finally closed her eyes and said, “Okay.”
Ashley was gone after that.
My dad felt better.
Everything was good.
It was New Year’s Eve. Ashley texted.
“Can we meet?”
Ashley was in the snow.
“Happy New Year,” Ashley said, blending with
the snow. “Make a wish.”
Ashley told me to wish.
The fireworks lit up the sky.
“Happy New Year.”
“Can’t take it.”
Ashley dropped.
I breathed and said, “It’s cold. We can say
goodbye.”
Ashley tried to speak.
I went back.
I heard Ashley say Happy New Year.
I didn’t look back.
20
I saw Chad at the hospital.
He’d lost weight.
His arm was wrapped up.
He was on the phone, and sounded upset.
“So, Ashley, can’t we be friends?”
Chad went pale and broke the phone.
By the time I paid, Chad was gone.
At home, Alex and his girl, Shay, came to eat.
“How’d you guys fix things? Didn’t you almost
make her cry?”
Alex got cocky. “What’s the big deal? I knelt
on a durian, don’t be embarrassed.”
After a bit, he asked, “Did you know Chad
and Ashley crashed on New Year’s?”
I knew. I saw it.
Alex changed the subject.
I peeled an orange.
It was sunny.
My dad called, “Dinner’s ready!”
Alex ran, and yelled to Shay: “Hurry! Nate
loves the wings, don’t let him grab ‘em!”
Shay ran for it.
“Two against one.”
“Alex, no money for you.”
“What!”
Alex cried,
“Two against one.”
“Alex, no money for you.”
“What!”
Alex cried,
“Please!”
