LOGINBy late afternoon, I finally lean back. Finished, I smile, it has been a good day. Really good day. As I pack up, someone knocks lightly on the wall of my cubby, and Diane steps around the wall. I smile up at her, “Hey.” Diane smiles, “You got a minute?” I nod, thinking something has happened in on
The next morning, I wake up with one mission. Prove to myself that I’m not losing my mind. I lay staring at the ceiling while Greg moves around the bedroom, getting ready for training. He looks normal, maybe a little too normal. Which makes me a little suspicious. I watch him pull on his team shirt,
Chase laughs again, “Yep.” I grin, “Oh my god.” Then I stop and realize, “You’re actually doing this.” His voice softens, “Yeah.” I smile instantly, and my heart melts. My big brother by a minute and a half. I lean against the wall, “What do you need?” He exhales, “I need your help arranging it.
Coming back to Boston feels strange. Not bad, just… strange. I unlock the apartment door and step inside, carrying my backpack while Greg rolls our suitcases behind us. The place looks exactly as we left it. Blankets folded, shoes by the door, mail stacked neatly, Normal. But somehow after Santa Mon
I sit back, not able to hold in my excitement much longer, “We put an offer in.” Mom’s eyes widen, “You did?” I nod. Mom smiles warmly. Then, unexpectedly reaches across and squeezes my hand, “You’re moving home.” I blink. The words hit harder than I had expected. Home. I smile softly, “Yeah.” Mo
The entire drive back to my parents’ house feels unreal. I sit in the Uber staring out the window with the strangest mix of excitement and disbelief buzzing through my chest. We’ve done it. Or at least started. I keep replaying standing on that balcony looking out at the view, and the ocean, along w
Getting wheeled back into the gallery where Jen left me, I keep looking at all the paintings, waiting for her to return. My eyes kept wandering to the painting I have just secretly purchased for the woman who is taking care of me and whom I still love deeply. When I get a bit longer of a chance, I n
“What do you think of it?” Jen asks me. I can only ever be honest with her, so I tell her my honest opinion.“It’s breathtaking. There’s something about this painting that reminds me of you. I don’t quite know what it is, but it’s there. The colors and the contrasts are just captivating. I can see w
Getting to Greg’s room, I charge into the room to see Greg dressed in a white tee and black gym shorts sitting in a wheelchair with a gym bag of what I’m assuming are his belongings on his lap, and the doctor giving him what looks like discharge papers and pain meds. Two heads turn in my direction a
When I get down to the lobby heading toward the doors, I see my mom and dad talking to Greg’s parents. Tracy spots me from across the lobby and waves me over to join them. I signaled to her that I can’t go over to join them as I had somewhere I needed to be right now. She nods in understanding, and







