Casey was leaning on the sunbaked wooden guardrail of the pier as I approached. She was still as beautiful as the last time I saw her 5 years ago. Her frame was slim, slimmer than before and she had cut her hair to a medium length; its honey tones reflected off the setting sun. Casey’s dress fluttered in the sea breeze and I could see a shadow of her body underneath; a pulse pinched in my chest. I passed by an older couple sitting on a bench, they held each other close and their eyes were almost shut. It was a moment I had thought of before with Casey and I, growing old together and facing what the world would throw at us. Yet, it had thrown us a real curve ball that we couldn’t catch.

I was behind her now, yet she hadn’t noticed me. My hand reached out to her and I hesitated. An avalanche of memories and heartache tumbled down from my mind and into my body; I was rigid and cold even though it was a cloudless sky. Casey turned to face me.

“Pedro,” She said.

“Cas, you... look great,” I said.

She nodded. “You look good too.”

I realized I should have hugged her, but the moment passed. Casey glanced back at the view she was facing.

“It’s been so long since I’ve walked this pier. Its still holding up after all these years.” Casey said.

“Yeah, it’s been a long time for me, too,” I rubbed my short curls back over my head. “Do you want to take a walk?”

“No, I kinda like it here.”

“Ok.” I said as I stepped up to the wooden wall.

We both leaned on it. I glanced down and noticed all of the heart shaped markings with the initials of countless lovers inside.

“So, how long are you in town?” Casey asked.

“Um, about 2 weeks. The funeral is in a couple of days and then I’ll be staying with one of my uncles as we sort some things out.”

“I’m sorry about your father. He was a kind man. Stern, but kind.”

“That was my dad,” A memory drifted in and I chuckled. “Do you remember when we had that party in my house, we were like 16, and we invited as many people as we could think of. We thought we had gotten away with it until my dad called us out on it.”

Casey laughed and a ripple of warmth spread in me.

“Yeah, I remember that! I had never been so afraid in my life. Well, my teenage life,” Casey said and she bit her lip.

A coolness settled in as if a fog wrapped around us. I knew what she meant. I was also afraid then, but not as much as when we were taking care of Jacqueline. My mind scrambled to find something to say that would bring that nostalgic moment back. Casey turned to me, her eyes glimmering.

“Pedro... this is so hard for me. Seeing you after all these years, but I wanted to come and see you. I needed to.” Casey said, her eyes had dropped to her hands, which were twitching.

“Casey, I’m really glad that you came. I really wanted to see you too,” I paused. I didn’t expect this conversation to happen so soon. “I’ve missed you.”

Casey rocked as if she couldn’t hold her weight anymore. I stepped closer and then she stepped back.

“I’m sorry, I thought you were going to fall.” I said, my face flushed.

“It’s ok.”