Crossing States

Chapter 1

The sun was high in the sky, casting a golden glow over the small suburban neighborhood where Ethan and Luca spent nearly every day together. The air was thick with the sound of cicadas, the smell of fresh-cut grass, and the laughter of two boys who couldn't imagine their world being anything other than this. They were ten years old, living in that sweet spot where time felt endless and summers stretched out like a promise that would never end.

Ethan and Luca were inseparable. Where one went, the other followed, a friendship forged in backyard adventures, scraped knees, and whispered secrets. Ethan, with his wild, messy hair and boundless energy, was always the one coming up with the big ideas—whether it was building a fort high in the trees behind Luca's house or planning an imaginary voyage to far-off lands. Luca, quieter and more thoughtful, was the anchor. He had a way of thinking things through, of seeing details Ethan often missed, and that made their partnership work.

Today, they were on one of their epic quests, lost in a world of make-believe. The old oak tree in Luca's backyard had become their fortress, its wide, sturdy branches the perfect hideaway for their imagined kingdom. Ethan was the leader, wielding a stick like a sword as he gave Luca instructions about the next phase of their "mission." Luca, perched in the crook of a branch, watched with his signature quiet smile. He loved how Ethan could turn even the smallest thing into an adventure.

"Come on, Luca! We have to find the treasure before nightfall!" Ethan called down from his perch, his eyes alight with excitement.

Luca chuckled softly, leaning back against the tree trunk. "What treasure, Ethan? We already found it yesterday."

"No, no," Ethan shook his head, hopping down from the branch. "That was *yesterday's* treasure. Today's is hidden even deeper in the woods. Come on, or we'll never make it before dinner."

Luca let himself be pulled into the game, as always. He followed Ethan without question, just as he had done since the day they met in kindergarten. They'd been best friends ever since—through scraped knees, sleepovers, and endless summer days like this.

As the afternoon wore on, they found themselves lying on the grass, staring up at the clouds, their faces flushed from running around. The air had a lazy, warm feeling, and the only sounds were the distant hum of lawnmowers and the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze.

"You think we'll still do this when we're older?" Ethan asked suddenly, breaking the comfortable silence.

Luca turned his head to look at his friend. "Do what?"

"Be friends. Build forts. Go on adventures."

Luca thought for a moment, his brow furrowing. It was hard to imagine a time when they wouldn't be doing exactly this, but even as he lay there, he sensed that something was changing. He didn't know why, but there had been moments lately—quiet ones, when the adults thought they weren't paying attention—where he caught snippets of conversation about Ethan's dad's job, about something that sounded like *moving*. Luca hadn't asked about it yet, not wanting to spoil the magic of the summer.

"Of course," Luca finally said, giving Ethan a reassuring smile. "We'll always be friends. No matter what."

Ethan smiled back, a wide, confident grin. "Yeah, you're right. We'll always have each other."

They sealed the promise with their secret handshake—a series of quick taps, claps, and finger-snaps that they had perfected over years of practice. It was their symbol, a reminder that no matter where they were, or how far apart, they would always be connected.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, turning the world a soft shade of pink, they made their way back to Luca's house. The golden hour cast long shadows on the ground, but neither boy paid attention. They were too busy planning their next adventure, their next escape into a world where nothing ever changed.

But as they walked, Luca glanced over at Ethan, a question forming in his mind that he couldn't quite shake. He opened his mouth to ask—about the overheard conversations, about Ethan's dad, about the possibility of a life without his best friend by his side—but the words never came out. Something in the moment felt too fragile to break.

Instead, they walked in silence, the weight of unspoken thoughts lingering in the air between them. And though neither boy said it, both could feel the subtle shift, like the first cool breeze that signals the end of summer, warning that change was on the horizon.

For now, though, they still had the endless summer days, and they weren't ready to let them go.

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