Looking through old school photos, Joana Cooper felt a wave of nostalgia, especially when her eyes landed on Chad Barns—her high school crush who’d vanished from her life before graduation. She’d been heartbroken when he ghosted her, and twenty years later, still wondered why.
Her best friend Lora encouraged her to attend their school reunion, and though Joana was nervous, she agreed. As the night unfolded, Joana spotted Chad across the room. He looked different, yet the same, and memories flooded back. When they finally spoke, a long-lost misunderstanding came to light: Chad had left her a note asking her out years ago, but Joana had never received it. Instead, Lora, who secretly liked Chad, had intercepted it.
Confronting Lora, Joana felt a mix of betrayal and sadness. After Lora left, Joana and Chad sat together, letting go of the past and realizing they’d both been left in the dark for so long. They couldn’t change what happened, but they were ready to see what the future held.
