10 Year Reunion

May – July 2025

The high school reunion was everything Audrey thought that it would be, or maybe it wasn't. It gave DMV or high school prom vibes. Audrey swirled her drink around her cup. In truth, she didn't really want to be here, and she didn't expect that many other people wanted to be here either.

She was of the mind of many people. She didn't need to be here, because everyone from high school who still mattered to her was actively part of her life still do this day. Everyone that was except for her: Anika Sharma.

Audrey's heart ached as the thought of Anika's name echoed through her head. Her girlfriend winced in discomfort next to her, and she swiftly pulled away her hand and scolded Audrey. Audrey was quick to apologize. She had a tendency of accidentally squeezing or scratching Dunni whenever she was deep in thought. It was actually one of the main reasons that Dunni did not enjoy holding Audrey's hand, despite Audrey's protests and need for physical touch.

Srinthi shifted next to her.

"Oh look... there's so-and-so..." Srinthi's sweet voice rang out as she pointed to a small group of people that she was far more familiar with than Audrey ever was. Audrey frowned. She wasn't interested in any of them, and she was ready to leave.

Srinthi looked up and back and her with big eyes and kind face.

"Go ahead and talk to them." Audrey spoke encouragingly. "I'll be here when you get back." Audrey promised her dear friend of many years.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk to more people...?" Dunni asked.

The room was somewhat disparate. Audrey had thought long and hard for nearly a year of who she would want to see if she saw anyone at all. Only a couple of names came to mind: Destinee and Raymond.

Destinee didn't know it, but Destinee had saved Audrey's life. Deeply suicidal, Audrey wasn't convinced that she would still be here today without Destinee's intervention. A decade ago, Audrey was ready to end it all, and she was convinced that no one would care.

Then there was Raymond. Still to this day, Audrey believed Raymond to be God's greatest gift to the Earth. He, alone, was the kindest man she had ever met. His thoughtfulness and consideration blew Audrey away, and she felt blessed to have had known him even if it had only been for a season.

I guess seeing some of the teachers was nice too, but it felt like something that she could have done at any time. Obviously, she couldn't see all her old favorite teachers. Many of them had left like Mr. Herschel, Senorita Roberts, and Ms. Allen. However, many good ones who Audrey held dear to her heart stayed such as Mr. Alexander, Mrs. Fooks, Dr. Howard, and Mr. Jameson.

There was one other person Audrey wondered if she wanted to see. She didn't know what emotions she'd feel in their presence, but she felt that it was plausible that she would make an experience: Carina Lo. In Audrey's mind, she had always seen Carina as a gate keeper to Anika. A part of her wondered, if she could just speak to Carina and get through to Carina, that maybe she'd have the chance to speak to Anika.

Audrey was no longer certain if this was true, and every year that went by made Audrey less certain. She was sure the two of them were still good friends, but she wasn't sure that Anika still hung on Carina's every word as she once had.

"If you're just going to stand here, then I'm going to go get some free food." Dunni shrugged. Audrey gave a short nod of acknowledgement without looking at her girlfriend, and her girlfriend headed off to the buffet table.