A Physics Prodigy From Ukraine

“Snow day, Ryan,” Brendon told me.
Matter-of-factly.
“School’s closed.”
I bashed my gloved hands together and stuck the keys back in my pocket.

I had a weird feeling.
I had forgotten something.
Forgotten what?

Brendon frowned.
“Where are you going?”

With a painful jolt I remembered.
I hadn’t told him.
I hadn’t told him I was leaving.
“Massachusetts.”

My voice was rough.
I hadn’t spoken in a while.
Brendon nodded.
“I’ll miss you.”
I would miss me too.
I didn’t want to shut up forever.

But I didn’t want to speak to them.
I swung my legs onto Brendon’s side of the fence.
My jaw hurt.
I stooped slightly.
Motioned helplessly at Brendon.
I didn’t know how to do this.
“I don’t know what to do.”

Then, as if I’d given him the best gift ever.
A million dollars.
A house full of diamonds.
The biggest grin broke across his face.

He took my gloved hands and stood on his tiptoes.
We were both freezing.
But I forgot all that.
When his lips pressed mine.
His breath was hot and I could feel his pulse.
He tasted like honey.
I never wanted to let go.
I felt like my heart was punching it’s way out of my chest.
In a good way.