PRESENT DAY

“Isaac’s hosting a party tonight at 6, I’ll meet u there”

It was my one year anniversary with Kyle, and he wanted to spend it getting drunk at Isaac’s party. Isaac, his sarcastic friend who’s jokes never fail to ruin my mood. ‘Happy anniversary to me.’ It’s 5:25pm, and I know I should be wrapping up ready to go, but I can’t help drag this out as long as possible, refusing to do so much as pick out an outfit. ‘I don’t even drink. I’m not going to enjoy this.’ My fingers comb their way through my closet for the hundredth time when I stumble upon the jacket I wore snowboarding last December…

_______

FLASHBACK - Dec 20th

“Rise and shine Kara! We didn’t come all this way to miss out on the mountain!”

It was finally winter break, and a group of my childhood best friends planned a ski getaway. Before we know it, we’re standing before the rental table. While Amy and Kate are picking out their ski poles, my friend Devin notices my attention drifting elsewhere.

“Your eyes haven’t left the snowboards since we got here. Would you rather try that?”

As fun as that sounded I’d only slow everybody down - “I don’t know how.”

“I don’t either but I’m willing to learn with you if you’d rather try that.”

I told him he didn’t have to. I heard just how excited he was to race against Owen the whole car ride up. But he insisted, “Owen could keep his dignity a bit longer. I’ll beat him next time.”

So while our friends sped off to the closest black diamond we spent the day laughing and tumbling down the easiest green.

_______

PRESENT DAY

I end up grabbing the teal halter dress I bought last summer. It’s stylish without looking over-the-top, and after 15 minutes of curling my hair and ransacking my closet for shoes I’m ready to go. By 6:07pm I’m typing Isaac’s address into my phone and pulling out the driveway.

_______

FLASHBACK - July 15th

‘It’s 8:55pm. So long as I’m ready by 9:10 I’ll have 20 minutes to figure out where the heck I’m going… this’ll be fine’.

I’m startled out of my thoughts by the buzz of my phone and the text message lighting it’s screen.

Evan: Hey! When r u planning on heading over to Jack’s?

I send a reply, then abandon my phone for a hairbrush and get to work detangling my mess of hair, still damp from swimming with my sister an hour before. Next I know I’m grabbing my keys and walking out the front door. The grey Honda blocking the driveway catches my attention though.

Evan rolls down his window and calls me over. “Want a ride?”

I thank my classmate for the offer but can’t deny my confusion by the gesture. “I could drive myself you know.”

“Of course you can. I know you don’t like relying on GPS at night though, and we’re both headed to the same place. Better for the environment and all that too.”

_____

PRESENT DAY

For as much as I can’t stand Isaac, I have to admit his house is beautiful. After finding a spot to park I find myself walking up the paved pathway to his door, a beautifully engraved wooden piece currently being held open by a rubber door-stopper. ‘Sure my parents wouldn’t be thrilled if I threw a party while they were away, but no question they’d be MORE furious by the propped door!’ My parents have never tolerated bugs in the house, and my sister and I have learned to treat a let-in fly as an emergency requiring immediate attention.

_______

FLASHBACK - Nov 8th

“My life’s a joke, can’t believe this :( Code red emergency, need help ASAP!” - sent

It’s just my luck a moth slipped it’s way inside as I’m closing the door after taking out the trash. My sister and I have been referring to bug situations as “CODE RED’s” for as long as I could remember, and we’ve become a pretty good team when it comes to catching things before our parents see. It’s about 5 minutes since I sent my emergency text when someone knocks at the door. ‘Guess she’s been outside this whole time. The nerve of her taking so long to help me with this!’ I swing open the door ready to give my sister the 411, but am instead met with the frantic face of my neighbor Jackson.

“I got your text, what’s going on? Is everything ok?”

There’s an awkward moment of silence when my brain racks my memory trying to piece this together. All the while Jackson’s eyes scan me over then start searching the room over my shoulder, each of us trying to understand how we got to this point. It clicks when my ‘new pet moth’ flies between us reminding me of its presence.

I texted the wrong person.

After endless apologies and a thorough explanation of my not-so-emergency emergency situation, Jackson and I got to work figuring out what to do with Mr. Moth.

_______

PRESENT DAY

“You’re a half-hour late Kara, where have you been??” Kyle, courteous as ever, spots me from across the room.

_______

FLASHBACK - April 29th

“You’re a half-hour late Kara, where have you been?? I’ve been miserable without you! Thank goodness I don’t have to suffer alone anymore!” Every once in a while work overlapped with track meets. Casey, along with a few other teammates, never failed to make me feel welcome even when late.

_______

PRESENT DAY

Kyle went to drape his arm over my shoulder, but I shrug it off.

It’s our one year anniversary. We’re surrounded by all his friends, and this is no place for a serious conversation about the future. But I’ve made up my mind that this will be our last night together. There’s a certain way to be treated, and this doesn’t cut it for me anymore.