Chapter 6

We had never gone a day without talking.

Sean had sent me many photos over the years.

Brilliant sunsets, clusters of wildflowers by the roadside, skies so blue they looked unreal...

There was one of him standing in his family's garden, smiling at the camera.

The hem of his white shirt fluttered in the breeze. He stood tall and handsome, his smile as radiant as moonlight.

He had said, Sweetie, I took this photo specially for you.

Maybe one day, you'll be able to recognize me if we pass each other on the street.

I said what were the chances of that ever happening.

Now I realized I was wrong.

There are even more unlikely coincidences in this world.

His face was half-hidden in shadow under the streetlights, refined yet cold.

His beautiful features overlapped with the boy in the photos.

Familiar yet strange.

Sean once asked me what kind of person I liked.

I asked him back, what are you like?

He said, I'm whatever you like.

I said I liked righteous, noble young men.

The Sean I imagined in my mind was exactly like that.

He was silent for a long time after that, only sending back a smiley face emoji.

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