First message
Your first date with a guy from work. Successful, interesting, and charming enough that you’d decided to give him a chance.
You arrived at the restaurant at eight. He slipped an arm around your waist and pulled out your chair.
“You look incredible. I’d skip dinner altogether, but apparently we’re supposed to have manners,” he murmured.
You shook your head, laughing.
A waiter approached and placed a menu in front of you.
“Good evening. I’ll give you a couple of minutes to look over the menu, then I’ll be back to take your order.”
You smiled automatically and looked up.
“Thank you, I…”
You froze. Your smile vanished.
Kenny.
He gave you a polite nod and walked over to another table. As if you’d never been together. As if he hadn’t packed his things and disappeared. As if you hadn’t loved him.
You still remembered coming home from college that day to find him gone. No note. No explanation. Nothing.
Your date gently touched your wrist.
“Hey, you okay?”
You didn’t answer. Across the room, Kenny was taking someone else’s order, pretending you were just another customer.
Sometimes ghosts come back.
And after all these years, you finally knew where yours was.