I'll Be Seeing You

Twenty.

The late afternoon sun poured across the deck, casting a golden hue over the lake and warming the wooden boards beneath my bare feet. I stood at the grill, flipping burgers, the scent of charred meat mixing with the faint sweetness of the lake air. Mark leaned against the railing, drink in hand, watching me with that soft look he always gave me when he thought I wasn't paying attention. He still didn't realize I saw it every time.

Abby, Rene, and Tommy were gathered around the picnic table, teasing and laughing like they hadn't seen each other in ages. Abby was in the middle of telling a story about one of her college professors.

"So he just stops mid-lecture," she said, hands flailing, eyes wide, "looks straight out the window and says, 'I don't know if I'm teaching or just talking to myself.' I swear, this man is three espresso shots and a nap away from losing it." We all burst out laughing.

"You sure this is a real professor and not a character from a sitcom?" Rene laughed, sipping her lemonade.

Abby grinned. "He's very real. And somehow, he's my advisor."

I smiled, watching her soak up the attention. It had been a huge adjustment, her moving here, starting over. But seeing her now—confident, vibrant, and finally a little grounded—it made everything worth it.

"She's doing well," I said quietly to Mark, handing him a plate. "She's really figuring things out."

He nodded. "She's blossoming. It's like she finally believes she has a future."

"She does. She just needed a little time—and space."

We sat down to eat, the sun dipping lower in the sky. After a few bites, I turned to Abby. "So, are you still thinking about med school after your bachelor's?"

She wiped her mouth, then leaned forward with that spark in her eye. "I think I want to go into pediatrics. Or maybe neonatal. I haven't completely decided yet, but I know I want to stay in the medical field. I've been shadowing at the clinic this summer, and I love every second of it."

"That's amazing," I said, pride swelling in my chest. "You'd be incredible with kids."

Rene leaned in. "So... any college boy drama?"

Abby's cheeks flushed just slightly. 

"Oh no," I said, raising an eyebrow. "There is someone."

She tried to brush it off, but the smile gave her away. "It's not a big deal."

"Name," Rene demanded. "Now."

Abby laughed, rolling her eyes. "His name is Caleb. He's in my anatomy class. Pre-med. Super smart, ridiculously patient, and he actually listens when I talk."

"And?" I pressed.

"And... we've gone out a few times. He's sweet. A little nerdy, but in a cute, attractive way. I don't know... it's not serious, but it feels easy. Like I don't have to pretend."

I reached over and squeezed her hand. "That's how it's supposed to feel."

Mark chimed in with a knowing grin. "Just make sure he knows you have a very protective older sister and a fiancé who's not afraid of background checks."

Abby rolled her eyes. "Oh my God, you're all ridiculous."

"Yep," I said, sipping my drink. "Welcome to having a family."

It hit me then—how much she'd grown. Abby used to be that fragile, lost girl trying to rebuild after everything fell apart. Now she was thriving. She had a plan, she had love blooming in her life, and for the first time, she had real peace.