She picked up one book after another and wistfully caressed each leather-bound cover. Here she would be the beautiful merchant girl, there she would be the damsel rescued from the clutches of a dragon. And there, there she would be the princess who finds true love by kissing a frog…

She paused. That particular story sounded feasible enough.

— Part 2 of Reunion —

Afraid that he would lose Amanda’s interest, he searched for common ground, and his eyes settled on the empty glasses they were both holding.

“Would you like a refill?” he asked.

— Part 1 of Reunion, a 2-part Valentine’s special —

Blinding lights, thumping music and cheerful chatter overwhelmed his senses when he turned the corner. For a moment Matthew stood still at the edge of the party, watching it all in motion from his hiding spot in the darkness. He had been invited and by all means he belonged in there as a fellow member of the class, but stepping into the light and calling attention to his own presence felt like jumping out of a moving train.

“A flamenco show?” I finally asked after processing the paper that was crudely glued onto the wood. “Could we look any more like tourists right now?”

“Well, we could order a sangría,” she replied with a chuckle, already pushing open the doors and making her way inside, greeting some strangers along the way.

I was left no choice but to go in with her.