QUOTE : His tone was demanding. “Look at me, Frankie.” When I didn’t listen, he repeated, “Look at me.”<br />I lifted my head. To look him in the face was truly painful, triggering an onslaught of memories I preferred to keep at bay. One thing was for certain: the grown man standing before me was far more confident than the guy whom I’d last seen with tears in his eyes.<br />“I don’t understand. How is this possible? What are you doing here at my school?”<br />He slowly approached me, causing my skin to heat. “We live here now — in Massachusetts.”<br />My eyes returned to meet his when I asked, “How did your son end up in my class?”<br />“If I told you it was a coincidence, would you believe me?”<br />“No.”<br />“Well, it’s not,” he was quick to admit.<br />“Why? Why are you doing this? Why didn’t you warn me?”<br />“Would it have made it any easier?”<br />“No,” I whispered.<br />...<br />“You’re the only one I trust with him... I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing, in general. I know it may seem like eons ago that we were close, and I know you’re confused right now. I know I fucked everything up between us, but I’ve never forgotten you. Not a single day.