A man looked down the road towards the old Perkins house and remembered.
The memory was old enough to have faded a long time ago, but it seemed just like yesterday. He was a boy, and he had been standing in this very spot. It had been raining.
In the distance, a dog barked. PT?
He closed his eyes, and everything came back.
They swung across the creek for the last time and ran without a care in the world, trying to escape the heavy droplets of water falling on their heads. Even then, he knew somehow that it was the happiest moment of his life.
"See ya!"
"Yeah, see ya."
And then, she turned and gave him the most beautiful smile he had ever seen, or would ever see.
He stared... She waved goodbye.
Jess quickly wiped his face. He looked around, but nobody was there. Everything was silent now, and he started walking to his old refuge. Eventually, the bridge came into sight. He stood at the opening but didn't cross.
After a few minutes, he left and went back to his pickup. He twisted the ignition a few times, and eventually, the thing sputtered to life.
It would barely last the trip.
He headed out onto the highway, rolling down the window as the machine slowly accelerated. Cool wind went through his hair. He sighed heavily. And back home, there was a decent job and a steady girlfriend, waiting for him. But that's not where he was headed.
Because after all these years, he still couldn't forget the innocent fleeting touches. The laughter. The smiles, meant only for him.