tires spit gravel as he pulls in a little fast, the house unchanged from the day he left it. windows were sealed, paint dulled by years that had passed without him, and there was already a woman waiting on the front lawn. shit, he exhales to himself, his chest tightening because he was late, but in his defense he didn't want to be here at all. he was halfway out of the car, apology already forming, when the angle of her face caught his attention and made him pause. the clock suddenly dialed back until he was seventeen again with grass stains on his jeans and his father's voice in his head. he recognized her not as the talented art dealer his attorney had promised, but as liz from a few houses down. older now, but standing where she once hovered with a sweating glass of lemonade. " my flight was delayed. " his hand stalled midair, his name lodged in his throat. did he really need to introduce himself? " i got here as quickly as i could. " / @driftse
