No Second Chances: Their Lost Ava

started cleaning her

idying, bu

rd box from the back of her cl

n sashes they' d jokingly fought over

s Ethan had won for her, his debate-team pr

movies, concerts

shared

all into a b

d, a symbol

ollege anymore. This was

the recycling bins outside, Ethan' s

the passe

urched. Per

all smiles and

x called out,

h bag, then to the "Memories - E&J" bo

tered. "What'

led the box out. Jax p

om confusion to disbelief, t

s voice was tight. "You' re t

ur memories. What the hell, Ava? Are you that mad ab

ing petty, trivializing th

tral, her voice caref

before college. It' s just

et Ethan' s searching

n her own voic

achment, as if watchin

seemed to accept her explana

e dropped the box back i

, you' re not mad anymore? About

ghed. They tru

e, Jax. I'

r their faces. So

believe everything was back to no

were thinking, we should all go to that end-of-year bonf

hloe' s helping organize

ttled in Ava. Their rel

e still

quick, assessin

aid, his tone thoughtful. "Maybe grab her favorite ice

od idea, man. Show her

ease a resentment she no longer genui

rts were f

Ava scrolled t

ughing, their heads close together, with the caption, "Bonfire

t jealousy, but a distant, clinical

coming a footnote

ail a

ope with the Yale University

led slightly as

leased to offer you admiss

A quiet, per

y and tucked it into her drawe

ret. He

uzzed. A te

p, we can swing by for you around 6:45? Get ready

so thick, she

ing a future she w

, not wi

you sure you want to go to th

big thing before graduation. I

anted to see them, one last time, in the

okay?" her mom sai

forcing a sm

felt ho

' s car, now carrying a chattering Chloe

zed into

d to make a last-minute run for more marshmallows. Ethan

eyes on the road. Jax h

afterthought, a

ck with Chloe' s perfume a

ride, her needs, her pre

d near the beach, the sound of crashing

The beginni