Life seemed to continue moving after my encounter with Connell. Though my heart still quivered whenever I saw him, I didn’t. I could actually be in the same room as him without wanting to pass out, which was good.

We found a routine of normalcy, even if it was for a short period of time. It was on a rather cold afternoon, though, that my life once again started moving. This time, full force.

“Can I have a cheeseburger, a small fry, and a large Pepsi- wait, no- diet Pepsi?” Maddie called out of the window into the speakers. Her sunglasses were perched low on the bridge of her nose...