Page 48 of Last Letters to Ara
“We’refriends.” Lou sends me a look, but leaves it alone. “I should give you my number in case you need any help and don’t want to ask Karen.”
“Why wouldn’t I want to ask Karen?”
Dan visibly cringes.
“Listen, I’m sure it’s mostly because I was terrible at this job, but she isn’t thewarmestperson you’ll ever meet,” I say with a grimace.
“I kinda got that vibe during my interview, but I don’t plan to give her anything to nit-pick.”
“I’ll give you my number anyway, just in case.”
“I’ll give you mine, too, just in case you ever want to hang out. I just moved here, meaning I’m always available.” Lou shares a self-deprecating smile.
I type in my number with genuine hope.
“Okay,” Dan says after polishing off another piece of cake, “it’s time I get back to my wife before she starts worrying.”
“I should also get going. I’d like to get a little sleep before my next shift,” says Joel. He gives me a big hug and kisses me on the cheek. “Good luck with everything, Ara.”
“Thanks, Joel,” I say with a little sniffle, regretting that I waited so long to open up.
Dan wraps me up into a hug next. “We’ll miss having you around here, but I can’t wait to see where you go next.”
I squeeze him even harder, before wiping my eyes as they walk away. How much fun have I missed out on these past few years by shutting them out? I vow to never make that same mistake again.
I look over to see Lou crying, more freely than any of us. “Oh my gosh, this is so embarrassing. I’m an empathetic crier, so I’m sorry, but I literally can’t stop.”
I laugh, genuinely, and I give her a hug, too.
I don’t think I’ve hugged this many people... ever.
I’m turning into a hug-slut.
Why do I like it?
“I wish you weren’t leaving,” she says into my shoulder. “I feel like we could be friends.”
I pull back. “Text me, we can still be friends.”
“I’d like that.” Lou sniffles.
“Come on, I’ll show you how to lock up.”
Yep…Dad would be happy.
Four Years Ago - Ara
A SOFT KNOCKon my door lets me know that it’s time to wake up for school. I haven’t been getting up on my own recently because, well, I just don’t want to.
The closer I get to my senior year being over, the closer I get to the future. And I think the future might just be the scariest thing in the world. You never know what’s going to happen, and I’m not too sure whether it’s in our control.
Dad slowly opens my door, and I think he’s got his eyes closed too. Ever since he accidentally walked in on me half-naked after I didn’t hear his knock, he takes pains to make sure it never happens again. The poor man probably would have bleached his eyes if he could.
“Ara?”
“Yeah, I’m awake.”
“Can I come in?”
