All Chapters of I Saw Him in Her Heart: Chapter 11

On the last night of the exhibition, I stood alone in the center of the gallery.'First Sight' shimmered under the spotlight.On the display card, I'd written one line.[Dedicated to the person I met when I was seven. She lived in my heart for a long time. Then she moved out. Now that room belongs to me.]I stood there for a while, then turned to leave.Outside, it was already dark.The streetlights had just flickered on.In the parking lot, I spotted Natalie's car near the exit.She stood beside it like she'd been there a while.Still in that gray coat.I walked over."Jake.""Yeah.""I saw the exhibition. It was wonderful. I stood in front of that necklace for a long time.""Thank you."After a beat, she spoke again. "Have you been okay this past year?""I have. You?""I'm doing okay."I knew she was lying.She'd lost even more weight.Her cheekbones were sharper, and the light was gone from her eyes.But she'd learned to wear neatly pressed dresses.She'd final