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I used to have a playset like this one in our backyard growing up—back when I was carefree and worry-free Back before I started dancing and doing gymnastics, before my mother wouldn’t let et hurt and no longer be able to perform

She worried I would break s never got better as I grew older; she only beca her daughter to be faht I would do witha professional dancer certainly wasn’t, isn’t, and never will be my dream come true

We’ve already established the fact that I a team so I can pay my bills

I release the curtain, letting it fall into place before turning back to Roraze the top of his dresser, skirazed the banister rails He has a se in it—a few pennies and solance around the rooot this from somewhere or if he actually plays

Next, my eyes take in a few receipts, crulasses A bottle of cough medicine

And a bracelet

A bracelet

It’s a braided friendship bracelet, and it looks old and worn and oddly familiar—the same familiarity I felt when I first laid eyes on Roman and wondered if I knew him The bracelet is made of my favorite colors and I used tothe them on my wrist one after the other At one point, I had twenty-three bracelets on my arm

I gave him this bracelet

I gave Roman this bracelet ere freshmen, and he kept it all these years

Taking it froers and sitthe fabric betweena tiny violin The yarn has worn as if he’s been doing the sa over and over these past few years

Threadbare

Did he recognize me last weekend e met, down in the kitchen? Did he already know ht at the party ere sitting on the stairs talking, but honestly, the two variations aren’t distinctly different at all, so I’m embarrassed I didn’t make the connection

He must think I am a ditz

He nize o I er than it used to be, and yes, I’ve had it highlighted and dyed more times than I can count since then But I aht