who: Chandler & @emmaainsley when: mid morning during the week where: Ventura Cofee Roasting Co.
It was shortly after making it through the car line at the elementary school that Chandler wandered into the coffee shop. His daughter started kindergarten this year. He hated it. She was overjoyed. On the first day she didn’t even spare Chandler a glance goodbye before booking it inside the school. Of course he was glad she was excited, but something about it made him sad. A blaring reminder his little girl was growing up and fast. It felt like just yesterday she couldn’t even walk. Yet, somehow, also a lifetime ago. He’d changed a lot in recent years. All for her. In his youth Chandler had been a different man. More inclined to impulse and reckless fun. Still trepid in many ways, but more carefree. Untainted by life and all of its grief.
It was always a surprise when he saw someone from that time in his life. Not very many people knew about Chandler now. He didn’t have a social media presence. Not even for his art. It was always nice for him to reconnect, though. Even if he didn’t feel nostalgic. He was a much happier man now.
“Emma?” He had to ask because it’d been awhile. They were just kids when they dated. Nineteen or twenty. It wasn’t ever a very serious thing and fizzled out naturally over time, but Chandler still considered her a friend. “Hey -- wow. I didn’t know you lived on Catalina?”
