This was going to take forever. I placed my hands on my hips and let out a deep sigh. I never realized that I actually owned this much stuff. But here it all was, haphazardly stuffed into the back of a Uhaul truck.

I was 26 and I finally moved out of Mom and Dad’s basement. I had wanted to do it for years now but I was never financially stable enough to. Well, Grandma’s life insurance money came through and they basically used it to shove me out of the house. I appreciated the push, but I didn’t know if I wanted it to happen this way.

I scanned the neighborhood. It was nice! Airing a little on the side of basic white suburban, but that didn’t concern me.

I saw a man, well, a saw a man’s legs in the driveway next door. He was waist deep in the trunk of his car. Upon further inspection I realized that he was bringing his groceries inside.

He emerged from the trunk with bags hanging from his arms. And I recognized him.

“Oh my gosh!” I gasped “is that-? Jamie Rothman?” I said it loud enough for him to hear me.

It was definitely him! He had aged, of course, he was taller, had deeper smile lines and his hair was more dull, but he was still Jamie Rothman. My first middle school crush. I could not believe the coincidence! I moved next door to Jamie Rothman! My heart pounded still.

He locked eyes with me for a second before his groceries spilled onto the driveway.

I shouted and ran over to help him as he bent down to pick them up.

He backpedalled as I drew closer. Ouch. “I’m sorry, who are you?” He looked at me with... fear?

“It’s me! Lillian Baxter! We went to middle school together in-“

“No no no,” he pressed the palms of his hands into his eyes. “You can’t be Lillian Baxter.” He said in disbelief.

“Jamie,” I scoffed. “Of course it’s me! We had English class together! I sat next to-“

“No!” He shouted again. “Lillian Baxter died in a car crash 13 years ago.”

I’m sorry, what? “I did not!” I shot back.

“Yes she did, yes she did! I would know because I was at her funeral! Stay away from me you sick creep!” He shouted as he scrambled into his house, leaving the groceries scattered on the driveway and the trunk of his car hanging open.

I stood in his driveway, simply shocked at the interaction. What did he mean?!