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CHAPTER ONE

"What a perfect day" Winter had finally thawed in Boston and spring was upon us The cae students, tourists, and city natives, erness to take soowns from this afternoon’s cere felt surreal, frooodbyes to friends to the anticipation of facing real world probleh me Pride, relief, anxiety But what I felt most was happiness To be in this moment with Marie by my side was more than I could ask for

"It is, and no one deserves it more than you, Erica" Marie Martelly, ave my hand a little squeeze and hooked her arh the Harvard ca quietly fro Tall and slender, Marie towered over my petite frame Her soft skin was the color of cocoa and her brown hair isted into dozens of short dreads, a style that expressed both her eternal youth and eclectic style From the outside, no one would suspect that she was the onlythere for me today," I said

"Don’t be ridiculous, Erica! I wouldn’t miss this for the world You know that Plus I always enjoy a little trip down memory lane I can’t reain!"

I laughed at her enthusiasm Only soer, as if no time had passed

We hopped into a cab and left the ca over the Charles River into Boston A few h the heavy wooden doors of one of the best steakhouses in the city Compared to the sunny streets, the restaurant was dark and cool, and a noticeable air of refine’s patrons

We settled doith our menus and ordered dinner and drinks The waiter prolasses of sixteen-year Scotch, on the rocks, a taste for which I had acquired from more than a few co on coffee and late night take out, nothing said congratulations like a cool glass of Scotch and a steak dinner

I traced lines into the sweat onwhat I would ever do without her Over the years, she had always offered the perfect measure of support She listened toabout work and finals, but she never pushed me She kne hard I already pushedparents was so the kinds of parents I heard about and occasionally , physically there but erandparents and suffering fro see pressure on irl?" Marie asked, breaking hts

"I really wish mom could have been here," I said quietly

Marie took my hand in hers from across the table "We both know Patricia would have been so proud of you today Beyond words"

No one had known h distance had separated them for years after school, they remained close--all the way to the bitter end

I avoided her eyes, unwilling to let myself succuoddamn flood every Hallmark holiday I wouldn’t cry today Today was a happy day One I would never forget

Marie released lass with hers and sratitude fill the elass to Marie’s I took a healthy s, savoring the burn of the liquor on its way down