I could not believe how easy it was.  For the low, low price of fifty bucks I had the ability to age four years in a matter of minutes.  My name is now Dana Stewart and I reside in Sparks, Nevada, which is a suburb just outside Reno.  I am so badass.

            “I can’t believe I’m 21!  It feels like just yesterday I was still only 17.”  I used a reminiscent tone for effect, winning a chuckle from my two cohorts. 

            “Hang on guys; I just want to run in here real quick.”  Aiden informed us before dashing into a skate shop.  It was nice to have a minute alone with her.  I turn to face her as we are linked only by our pinkies.

            “You never cease to amaze me.”

            “I told you I could be interesting.”  She smiled with one corner of her mouth and squinted slightly in a ‘fine, you told me so’ expression.  She pulls me lightly by our attached fingers and leans her forehead on mine.

            “I love you so much.”  I bring my hand to her neck, grazing her cheek with the pad of my thumb and close the short distance between our lips.  Her kiss never ceases to take my breath away.  We reluctantly put space between our heads and I just stare so deeply into her eyes.  CLICK.  We are torn from the moment by the snapping of a camera and turn to look for the source.

            “Aiden!”

            “What?  It was a total Kodak moment!”

~

            And it was.  Of all the pictures, in all the years, that was my favorite.  I haven’t seen this one in a while.  I had hidden away all the pictures of our life together.  I didn’t want a constant reminder of what I had let go.

            “I always loved that picture.”  Ashley startled me.  I had not seen her enter the room.  She glanced at the picture, then at me, before walking to the bed and sitting down.  “Look Spence, we really need to talk.”

            “Clay is coming to pick me up.”  As if he knew we were talking about him, I hear the honk of the horn outside.  She leans her elbow on her leg and positions her hand on both temples, shaking her head.