backstage room felt thick with the

had just finished a dec

l thump. Seven years I'd been in love with Jack, our band's i

supposed to

supposed to be at the Aero Theatre with Olivia for some indie film premiere. He'd bee

r showed

r made it t

buzzed. I

ak message: S

g. The glitter ball above the empty stage cast l

time, a notificat

overed, th

d post. From J

ivia – on a ski trip to Lake Tahoe. But in this cropped version, it was just Jack a

making it official. H

felt li

happy. Gen

with me. Olivia always made excuses whe

" my favorite oversized ski sweater, the vintage o

d this

they st

was a dull roar, probably the 24

ice was flat, devoid of

y throat. I manage

then, "Pann's? I'm alr

my w

. The festive holiday lights strung across

booth opposite him. He looked tired. ER nurses always looked tired, but this wa

half-eaten fries towa

said, picking

f cutlery and low hum of late-night conversat

n trip, right? The one where Olivia said she got food

ent the whole day on the slopes trying to teach you how to

scaped me. "We'r

a ghost of a smile playing on