Henry said it： ？I love you。？ Instead of saying it back； Serena fled into the house； booked a plane to
Paris to join her brother； Erik； in his travels； and never spoke to Henry again。 It wasn？t that she
didn？t like him。 Honestly； she did。 But love was unmistakable； and at that time； there was only one
boy she could ever truly love。Then； and maybe now； too 。 。 。
Serena tipped her glass back and gulped its contents； her hands shaking。Leave it to me to have a
nervous breakdown the night before my eighteenth birthday； she thought。
？Hey。 Remember me？？
Henry？s voice gave her a little start。 ？I was wondering when you were going to e over and
say hello。？ She pulled her knees up to her chest and smiled at him。
？I could say the same thing。？ The chair？s legs scraped noisily on the concrete as he pulled it out
and took a seat。 ？You look great。？
？Thank you。？ She smiled shyly； taking a sip of her drink。 She fumbled nervously for her
cigarettes； which were lying on the table near the trunk of the big umbrella。
Henry lit her shaking Gauloise and then helped himself to one from her stash。 Serena exhaled a
long plume of smoke； which danced away in the breeze。
？What happened to you； anyway？？ Henry smiled thought…fully； studying Serena？s face。 ？I
mean 。。。you justleft。 ？
Serena looked away。
？I e…mailed you a few times；？ Henry continued。 ？I never heard back from you。。。。 And when I
tried again； your school account had been closed。？
？I guess I needed to be alone for a little while to sort some things out。 And then I went back to
the city。？ She pulled a strand of hair out from behind her ear and played with it distractedly；
smiling sadly。 ？