Auggie's POV

It's August 30th, 2022, a couple of days after my 13th birthday. I'm sitting with Ava in the middle of Central Park, on a picnic blanket.

"I can't believe we're already going to be in eighth grade," she said.

"Me neither," I replied. She looked down and rubbed the end of her skirt with her pointer finger and her thumb. "You okay?"

"This is the first time I've worn a skirt since…" she said, "since Kevin did that to me." I took her hand in mine. She looked up at me. "I finally feel comfortable enough to wear one."

"I know it still affects you," I told her. "I hope someday it won't."

"There's one thing I think will always affect me," she said.

I knew what she meant right away.

"Losing the baby?"

"Yeah," she said. "That's really weird that we talk about that. I'm thirteen… I'm gonna be fourteen next month…"

"I don't think anyone should ever have to talk about that," I commented. "I wish no one had to go through that."

"Yeah," she said. "I'm glad KC was able to have Brooklyn."

"My mom said that that's called a rainbow baby," I said, "when you have a baby after losing one."

"And the one that was lost is called an angel baby…" Ava said. "KC told me that…she has two of them…"

Something popped into my head, and my mouth moved faster than my conscience.

"Did you ever think of what you would've named the baby?" I asked, but immediately added, "Sorry, it just came out."

"It's okay, Auggie," she told me. "Yeah, I did…right after I found out." She smiled. "Carmela Judith and Aaron Austin."

"My middle name?" I asked. "I don't think I ever told you it was Austin."

"Your mom told me," she said.

I smiled.

"You're beautiful," I complimented.

"I thought I kind of didn't look very nice," she said. "I didn't really put anything into it like I used to."

"You look perfect," I said. I smiled at her. "You always do."

"Thanks," she said.

It went silent between us and we could hear the music coming from Bluestone Lane over the wall. It was playing 'Love Someone' by Lukas Graham.

"Is that—?" Ava began to question.

"Yeah," I said, with a smile. "Our favorite song."

"Our song," she added, looking straight in my eyes.

I smiled and stood up.

"Ms. Morgenstern," I said, extending my hand, "may I have this dance?"

She smiled back at me and took my hand. I helped her up and we started dancing to the song. She laid her head on my chest. I smiled and I held her waist as we swayed to the music.