The Town That Knew Me

My phone dies somewhere between two roads I do not recognize clearly

Twenty minutes later, I find a town that is not on any sign I passed

I stop at the only gas station with its lights still on

The man behind the counter looks at me and forgets how to breathe.

Then he says my name.

“You finally came back.”

Headlights sweep across the gas station windows.

The attendant locks the door.

A police cruiser stops beside my car.

Sheriff Vale sees me through the glass and goes completely still.

The attendant whispers,

“Please. Do not let Noah find out you came back.”

I turn to him.

“Why?”

His face changes.

“Because he already lost twelve years because of you.”

Outside, the road is back

Noah stares at it.

“Twelve years ago, I pushed you across.”

Memory hits me all at once.

His hand leaving mine.

Me running.

Noah never crossing.

I look at him.

“You stayed for me.”

He shakes his head.

“I stayed because only one of us could leave.”

Then he takes my car keys.

“And now you came back.”

Noah drives toward the town line.

The second he crosses it, the road behind him disappears.

Every porch light in town turns on at once.

Sheriff Vale steps beside me and presses something cold into my hand.

A house key.

My name is already carved into it.