The bed shifts subtly and Kaylie groans. Ryan is already sitting on the edge of the bed as she pulls him back towards the mattress in silent request.

Too few kisses later, he rises again and this time succeeds in leaving the bed and reaching into his dresser. Kaylie watches him get ready for work and her mind wanders, thinking about their relationship.

“Do you remember when we first met?” She asks, without really thinking about why.

Ryan answers, “are you testing me?” With a teasing smile, he flicks her nose as he walks into the bathroom.

Kaylie lays in bed a few minutes longer than usual, puzzling over Ryan’s answer. She was not, in fact, testing him. He was excellent at remembering dates and sentimental gifts, always seeming to outdo or downright surprise her. No, she was confident he would know.

But she did not know the answer herself. She scrolled through pictures on her phone, but the earliest pictures were just from this week. She was certain they had been together longer than that.

“Someone’s sleepy today,” Ryan chuckles.

Kaylie’s mocking laugh in response produces another chuckle from Ryan while he exits the room.

Minutes later, Ryan finds her (finally out of bed) and brings a cup of coffee with a drop of milk and far too much sugar — just the way she likes it. Cursing her ridiculous, forgetful brain, she accepts the coffee with a smile.

“I wasn’t testing you. I’m ashamed to admit I can’t remember our first meeting,” Kaylie admitted.

“Good thing it’s a double,” he winks and motions to the admittedly large mug in her hands. “Good luck today, babe, love you.” A kiss on the cheek and he’s out the door.

Glancing at the clock on the microwave Kaylie utters a curse and rushes to finish getting ready and head to work.

Once settled at her desk, Kaylie’s mind again returns to the meet-cute with Ryan. When was it? Where was it? And, most importantly, why can’t she remember?

Looming presentation forgotten, Kaylie scours all social media, Google searches, and even nonchalantly prods the memory of her coworker, Ann. Nothing dated beyond this week. There is, however, a perfectly staged photo for each holiday. And she didn’t remember being in any of them.

The morning’s distraction surprisingly helped her presentation, which she had meticulously constructed weeks ago. Without the anticipation there was little room for the anxiety to take root. As she walked out the conference room, her autopilot clicked off and she again returned to the dilemma. She also realized that Ryan had sidestepped her question both times.

…. No time to be continued