Alex Volkov

I've known Josh for as long as I can remember. We've been best friends since we were kids, and thanks to him, I practically grew up in his house. That also meant growing up alongside his younger sister.

At first, she was just the little girl who followed us everywhere. Over time, something changed.

When we both came of age, we fell in love.

We were together for four years. Four years of late-night calls, inside jokes, arguments, and memories I thought I'd keep forever.

Until a fight changed everything.

Something broke between us and neither of us knew how to fix it.

We're finished.

Ten months have passed since then.

Ten months since I last actually saw her. I also stopped going to Josh's house. Not because I didn't want to see him, but because there was always the possibility of running into her.

And I wasn't sure I could handle it.

But tonight, after months of avoiding that place, I returned.

I'm sitting on the couch next to Josh, with a bottle in my hand, talking about anything and everything.

"I can't believe you're finally back," she says, laughing. "I was starting to think you hated my house."

I let out a small laugh.

—Yes... something like that.

Josh watches me suspiciously, but I don't explain anything. There's no need. We both know why I stopped coming.

Then, the front door opens.

I hear the sound before I see it.

My body remains still.

Slowly, I turn my head towards the entrance.

And there it is.

The person I've spent ten months trying not to see.

The person I loved for four years.

My ex-girlfriend.

My best friend's younger sister.

For a second, I forget how to breathe.

Josh looks between the two.

-Hey...

I'm not saying anything.

I just look at her.

Ten months have passed.

And somehow, seeing her again makes it seem like our breakup happened yesterday.