It was the fall of 1964 and I was back in Maycomb County, Alabama. I have not been here in almost two decades now. I came back to America shortly after I got the telegram that Scout and broken it off with Hank and that she wasn't going back to New York. The part about her not going back to New York was what shocked me the most. I could not give a shit less about Hank Clinton; he was beneath her and I always knew it. I never did say anything to her because I just wanted her to be happy and a part of her was happy when she was with him.

I moved to New York myself when I came back to the states. That was not the plan that I had in mind; I told myself that I was going to go to Maycomb to see her and I never did. That plan fizzled eight years ago and I still haven't brough myself to see her until now. I don't know why I feel so hesitant to see her, she used to be my best friend. She was the girl I was going to grow up to marry and I would steal kisses from her when her brother wasn't looking.

"Oh Jem," I mutter under my breath. "I hope you're happy wherever you are. I love you."

I could kick myself in the ass everyday for not coming to be with Scout when Jem died. I will never forgive myself for letting her go through that without me by her side. Granted, she had her family and Hank but they didn't know him the way Scout and I did. The three of us were unstoppable when we were together and we knew it. I know that I felt the same level of pain Scout did.

"Here we are sir," the colored taxi cab driver said as we pulled into an ice cream shop.

"You must have made a mistake, sir," I say. This was not Scout's house.

"No, no. Atticus Finch done had his old house demolished after losing his boy."

"I didn't know that. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I can bring you to his new residence. It's only a short ride across town."

"That's all right. I'll get out here and get myself a snack while I'm here."

"If you say so. Eleven dollars please."

I give the man a twenty and tell him to keep the change. I think I gave him the best day of his life. If only he knew what cab fare was like in New York. I guess it was kismet that brought me here because I was hungry and ice cream sounded refreshing. I got so used to the cool climate of New York that I had forgotten about the subtropic weather condition of Alabama.

"What can I get for you?" The colored clerk asks me. Time sure was a-changing around here and I have to say that I'm impressed so far.

"I'll have a large chocolate milkshake," I order.

"Coming up, sir."

"Thank you."

I looked around and saw that there was quite a few people still out here having ice cream. I just still couldn't believe that this was my old neighborhood. Aunt Rachel's house is no longer standing and Scout's old house turned into the foundation of an ice cream parlor; unbelievable.

"Your shake, sir," the colored clerk hands me my order with a smile. I bet I smiled bigger at the tall, dark beverage with whipped cream and cherry on top.

"Thank you."

"Fifty cents, please."

"Here you are," I say as I hand him his money. I couldn't stand it any longer and I dived into my milkshake. It was a dumb move because I ended up giving myself a wicked brainfreeze. As soon as I opened up my eyes again, I saw her standing there. Scout may have her brown hair longer than ever before and she may have gotten even slimmer but it was definitely her. She was getting a dish of vanilla ice cream then she proceeded to take a seat on one of the picnic tables to sit with herself. My heart began to pump heavy at the sight of her.

"Scout," I say, getting close to her.

"Nobody calls me Scout anymore," she tells me, not even looking at me. I stalled; did she not even recognize my voice anymore?

"Dill does," I say in an almost whisper. That was when she looked at me. She froze in time and so didn't I. A smile crept up onto her face and I felt one creep up on my own.

"Hi, honey," I say as I finally wrap my arms around her. I felt like I could float when she hugged me back.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"I'm so sorry."

"You should be. I always wondered whatever happened to you."

"Stupid shit," I admit as I untangle myself from her and take a seat so I can get a better look at her. It's amazing I know who she is even though she is all woman now. "Where's Atticus? Is he here with you?"

"He died the other day, Dill," she said with sad eyes.

"What?" I was in complete shock. "That cab driver never said a word to me..."

"It doesn't matter. Besides, nice to know some people can actually keep their mouths shut around here."

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you."

"You are now."

"That's true."