I Saved a Boy During a Storm 20 Years Ago — Yesterday He Came Back with an Envelope That Made Me Tremble

Not my friend Nina. She yells my name first.

This was polite.

I cracked open the door.

I walked to the door and looked out.

A tall young man stood on my porch.

Dark coat. Snow in his hair.

A large envelope tucked under his arm.

I cracked open the door.

“Yes?” I said.

My stomach dropped.

He smiled, nervous.

“Hi,” he said.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

He swallowed.

“I think you already did,” he said.

My stomach dropped.

My throat tightened.

“Twenty years ago,” he added.

I froze.

Those eyes.

Older now. But the same.

I whispered, “No way.”

He nodded. “Hi, Claire.”

I stared like he might vanish.

My throat tightened.

“Andrew?” I said.

He smiled wider.

“Yeah,” he said. “It’s me.”

I stared like he might vanish.

Then I pointed at the envelope.

I opened the door wider.

“What is that?” I asked.

He shifted it.

“A long story,” he said.

Snow blew in behind him.

I opened the door wider.

“Get inside,” I snapped.

My hands were shaking.

He blinked. “Okay.”

“Now,” I said.

He stepped in.

I locked the door.

My hands were shaking.

He stood like he didn’t want to touch anything.

He sat at my table.

“Coat,” I said.

He took it off.

“Shoes,” I said.

He kicked them off.

I walked to the kitchen.

“Sit,” I called.

“How did you find me?”