Before We Were Strangers

To the Lovebird with Green Eyes:

We moved into the NYU dorm room next to yours in Senior House fifteen years ago, nearly to the day, and that's when we first met.

You referred to us as close friends. I wish it had been more.

We had no other means of support other than the thrill of discovering who we were via photography (I could not stop shooting photographs of you), music (you were totally enamoured with Jeff Buckley), hanging out in Washington Square Park, and all the strange things we did to get money. That year more than any other, I discovered more about who I am.

But in the end, everything went apart. The summer after my graduation, we lost contact when I moved to South America to work for National Geographic. You were left by the time I returned. I'm still not sure whether I pushed you too much after the wedding.

You weren't in my life again till a month ago. Wednesday was the date. As you waited for the F train, you were swaying back on your heels and maintaining your balance on the broad yellow line that goes down the tube platform. It wasn't until it was too late and you had left that I realised it was you. Once more. I saw my name on your lips as you uttered it. I made an effort to make the train stop so I could say hello.

I've been wondering about your life for the better part of a month because seeing you brought back all of the emotions and memories I had when I was younger. I may be completely insane, but would you want to get a drink and talk about the last fifteen years?

I

From the bestselling author of Sweet Thing and Nowhere for USA TODAY But Here comes a love story about a Craigslist “missed connection” post that gives two people a second chance at love fifteen years after they were separated in New York City.