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page。　？The　day　we　。　。　。？　Nate　knew　before　she？d　even　said　the　words。　It　was　a　photograph　from　
the　night　they？d　lost　their　virginity　to　each　other；　more　than　two　years　ago。　He　couldn？t　help　
thinking　about　her　soft　skin　and　the　fun　they？d　had。　Some　documentary　about　the　Ten　
mandments　was　on　TV　that　night；　and　when　they？d　turned　it　on　after　they？d　made　love　for　
the　very　first　time；　Serena　had　yelled　out；　？You　parted　my　red　sea！？　He　smiled；　remembering　how　
happy　they　were；　how　they？d　stayed　in　each　other？s　arms　until　the　sun　rose。　

？I　don？t　even　remember　taking　it；？　Serena　added　with　a　shrug　of　her　shoulders　before　she　
reached　out　and　started　to　flip　to　another　page　in　the　album。　

？Me　neither；？　Nate　said；　reluctant　to　let　go　of　the　page。　Why　couldn？t　happiness　just　stay　like　
that？trapped　under　plastic　and　hermetically　sealed？　Why　did　everything　have　to　get　
soplicated　？　He　wished　more　than　anything　that　he　could　just　go　back　in　time　to　that　night　and　
start　all　over　again。　

Serena　grabbed　the　book　away　from　him；　closed　it；　and　sat　up；　crossing　her　legs　Indian　style。　She　
was　wearing　a　pair　of　ridiculously　tiny　white　shorts　under　her　cotton　dress。　It　almost　hurt　Nate？s　
eyes　to　look　at　her。　


Sounds　like　he　was　thinking　with；　ahem；something　now。　？Nate；？　she　began；　taking　a　deep　
breath；　？I　need　to　ask　you　something。　I　。　。　。　I　really　need　to　know　the　truth。？　？What？？　His　heart　
stopped　for　a　second。　Serena？s　almost　navy　blue　eyes　were　so　serious　that　he　found　himself　
reaching　over　and　grabbing　her　hand；　squeezing　her　soft　palm　in　his　own　to　fort　her。　

She　squirmed　unfortably　and　swallowed　hard。　？Did　you　ever　get　my　letter？？Letter？　Nate　
shook　his　head　slowly。　

Serena　took　another　deep　breath　and　looked　straight　at　him。　？I　wrote　you　a　letter　to　tell　you　that　I　
love　you；？　she　said　quietly。　？I　always　have。？　The　room　was　so　quiet　that　Nate　didn？t　know　
whether　the　sound　of　breathing　in　his　ears　was　his　or　hers。　Sitting　there　with　Serena；　on　the　floor　
of　her　room；　everything　felt　right。　Andsimple　。　In　fact；　when　he　really　thought　about　it；　things　
between　him　and　Serena　had　always　been　simple？it　waslife　that　had　plicated　them。　

And　somehow　it　felt　totally　right　for　him　to　kiss　her。　He　leaned　forward；　his　bare　knees　sinking　
into　the　carpet；　and　pressed　his　lips　to　hers。　As　he　breathed　in　the　scent　of　her；　he　felt　his　limbs　
relax；　his　body　going　limp　with　relief　and　happiness。　

Kissing　Serena　was　the　exactopposite　of　having　a　pair　of　stilettos　thrown　at　his　head？it　was　
absolutely　effortless。　They　staggered　to　their　feet　and　she　pushed　him　down　on　the　bed；　kissing　
him　back　eagerly。　

And　the　rest　is　history；　repeating　itself。　

　TO：　DHump18@gmail。

　FROM：　perma_green420@hotmail。

　Subject：　Changes　

　Hey　Dan；　

Dude。　I　guess　you　and　me　are　going　to　be　roommates　at　Evergreen。　I　don？t　know　about　you；　but　
I？m　totally　stoked　on　going　out　to　Washington。　I？m　from　this　shit…ass　town　in　the　boondocks　of　
Idaho；　and　after　eighteen　goddamn　years　here　Ineed　to　get　the　fuck　out。　

It？s　not　just　that　living　here　bores　me　to　tears；　but　the　people　here　just　have　no　respect　for　the　
earth；　right？　If　the　kids　I　grew　up　with　spent　a　quarter　of　the　time　they　spend　cooking　meth　in　their　
basements　focusing　on　the　fucking　earth；　we？d　have　solved　global　warming　by　now。　Honestly。　It？s　
like　with　smokers？why　do　they　do　it？　I　can？t　stand　people　who　damage　themselves　and　others　for　
no　fucking　reason；　you　know？　It？s　all　about　respect。　

So　what　about　you；　bro？　You　stoked　for　school？　I　hope　you？re　not　bringing　too　much　


stuff；　？cause　I　hear　our　rooms　are　pretty　small。　I？m　pretty　neat；　mostly　because　I　don？t　have　a　lot？I　
try　to　simplify；　stick　to　the　basics；　you　know。　The　only　thing　about　me　that？s　high　maintenance　is　
my　allergies？I？m　allergic　to　coffee　beans　and　will　go　into　anaphylactic　shock　if　I？m　even　near　a　
coffee　ground。　Trust　me；　it？s　not　as　cool　as　it　sounds。　

Are　you　signing　up　for　that　frosh　orientation　camping　trip？　Sounds　pretty　fucking　sweet　to　me。　
Getting　to　know　our　classmates；　spending　some　time　out　in　the　open　country；　living　off　the　
earth？way　it　should　be；　man。　Way　it　should　be。　

Peace；　love；　and　unity；　

　Urth　Greenberg　

breaking　up　isn？t　all　that　hard　to　do　

Dan　sat　on　the　curb　outside　the　Strand；　a　cigarette　in　one　hand　and　a　cup　of　weak；　tepid　black　
coffee　in　the　other。　Taxis　rumbled　down　Broadway；　pouring　black　smoke　out　of　their　tailpipes。　A　
stream　of　tourists　flooded　the　sidewalks；　mopping　their　sweaty　brows　and　looking　questioningly　
into　the　musty　old　bookstore　as　if　trying　to　gauge　the　strength　of　its　air…conditioning。　The　heat　
shimmered　off　the　pavement　in　waves　and　Dan　pushed　his　long；　straggly　brown　hair　back　from　his　
forehead　with　one　hand。　

For　the　past　few　days；　he？d　bailed　on　the　shifts　that　overlapped　with　Greg？s　in　an　attempt　to　
postpone　their　inevitable　talk。　He　just　didn？t　know　what　tosay　when　Greg　told　him　he　wanted　to　
be　more　serious；　moreofficial　。　Avoidance　had　seemed　like　a　good　plan；　but　then　this　morning　his　
boss　had　threatened　to　fire　him　if　he　didn？t　e　in；　so　he？d　spent　the　day　in　stealth　mode；　hiding　
out　in　the　gardening　section　and　ducking　behind　bookshelves　whenever　he　heard　footsteps　
approaching。　

？Hello　Daniel。？　An　unfamiliar；　elderly　voice　startled　him。　

He　looked　up　from　his　perch　on　the　sidewalk　and　recognized　Aggie；　the　seventysomething　
receptionist　at　Riverside　Prep　who　wore　a　different　wig　every　day。　Today　it　was　black　and　curly；　
sort　of　like　Ernie？s　hair　fromSesame　Street。　

？Hello　Aggie；？　Dan　mumbled。　This　was　the　problem　with　New　York？you　couldn？t　get　a　second　
of　peace　and　quiet　without　running　into　someone　you　knew。　Aggie　would　probably　want　to　have　
tea　with　him　now；　maybe　get　in　one　last　heart…to…heart　before　he　left　for　college。　

Or　take　him　wig　shopping？　


？Well；　Daniel；　it？s　lovely　to　run　into　you　like　this；　though　I　can？t　stay　and　chat。　Congratulations　
on　your　recent　announcement；　and　I？m　sorry　I　missed　your　party！？　Dan　watched　in　shock　as　Aggie　
smiled；　patting　her　wig；　and　then　shuffled　off　in　the　direction　of　the　discount　books　racks。　

Dan　gave　her　a　slight　wave　and　then　sighed；　pressing　his　back　against　the　brick　wall；　which　felt　
like　it　was　searing　his　flesh　through　his　damp　T…shirt。　Well；　that　was　weird。　Did　his　mom　invite　
theentire　world　to　his　ing…out　party？　He　adjusted　his　butt　on　the　hot　pavement　and　pulled　a　
notebook　from　his　ratty　black　Timbuk2　messenger　bag。　If　he　didn？t　get　something　written　for　the　
wedding　soon；　he？d　be　seriously　screwed。　But　the　trouble　was；　nothing　was　ing　to　him。　What　
did　he　know　about　marriage　anyway？　How　was　he　supposed　to　write　about　loving　someone　for　the　
rest　of　your　life　when　he　couldn？t　even　figure　out　hisown　love　life？

　Good　point。　

As　he　looked　up　from　the　blank　white　page；　he　saw　Greg　stroll　around　the　corner；　wearing　a　
white　button…down　shirt　and　stiff　white　jeans。　Oh　God。　Greg　stopped　when　he　saw　

Dan　sitting　there　and　smiled。　Then　he　smiled　and　hurried　over。　

？Hey。？　He　touched　Dan　on　the　shoulder。　？Where？ve　you　been？　I？ve　been　wanting　to　talk　to　you。？　
His　voice　sounded　genuinely　concerned。　

Dan　looked　at　the　cement。　He　could　feel　his　T…shirt　sticking　to　his　back　with　sweat。　？I？ve　been　
sick；？　he　mumbled；　coughing　into　one　fist　and　looking　away。　He　noticed　a　group　of　tourists　
approaching　en　masse　and　he　wondered　if　he　could　duck　in　with　them　and　make　his　
escape。　？Really　sick。？　His　gaze　shifted　tentatively　to　Greg；　who　was　staring　at　him　with　something　
like　amusement；　his　blue　eyes　creasing　at　the　corners。　？I　just　didn？t　want　to　give　it　to　you？I　think　
I？m　still　pretty　contagious　and？？　Greg　cut　him　off　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　？Listen；　I　really　
wanted　to　talk　to　you　about　something。？　He　sat　down　next　to　Dan　on　the　sidewalk。　

Dan　stayed　silent；　fiddling　with　the　pen　in　his　hand。　The　throng　of　tourists　came　and　went；　but　he　
knew　he　had　to　sit　there　and　stick　it　out。　He　dreaded　the　words　that　were　sure　to　fall　from　Greg？s　
lips　any　second　now。Let？s　do　this　thing。　I　want　you　to　meet　my　parents。　I　want　to　show　you　things　
only　another　man　can。　

Greg　cleared　his　throat　and　continued。　？I　thought　that　me　and　you　had　a　pretty　good　thing　going。？　
He　stopped；　his　words　hanging　in　the　air　above　their　heads。　？But　。　。　。　I？ve　kind　of　met　someone　
else。？　Huh？　Dan　stared　at　Greg；　his　mouth　open。　He　felt　like　he？d　just　been　smacked　in　the　head　
with　a　two…by…four。　Two　girls　dressed　all　in　black　stepped　around　them；　practically　trampling　them　
with　their　bat　boots　and　giving　them　a　dirty　look　for　blocking　the　sidewalk。　

？I　met　this　amazing　guy　at　。　。　。　um　。　。　。？　Greg　looked　down　at　the　pavement；　his　cheeks　flushing　
bright　red；　and　ran　a　hand　through　his　hair　before　continuing。　？A　party　。　。　。　and；　well；　we　kind　of　
just　had　this　really　intenseconnection　。？　He　put　his　hand　on　Dan？s　forearm；　squeezing　hard？but　in　


a　brotherly；　reassuring　way。　？I？m　sorry。？　This　time；　Dan　didn？t　squirm　at　his　touch。　？Don？t　worry　
about　it。？　He　patted　Greg？s　hand。　？It？s　totally　fine。？　He　sighed；　breathing　in　the　heavy　August　air；　
which　suddenly　felt　a　whole　lot　less　oppressive。　

A　look　of　relief　swept　over　Greg？s　face。　？I　know　you？ll　find　somebody　special；？　he　declared　in　a　
rush；　removing　his　hand　from　Dan？s　arm。　？And　I　hope　we　can　still　be　friends；？　he　added；　pushing　
his　glasses　up　on　his　nose。　

？Absolutely；？　Dan　enthused。　？Totally。？　He　looked　out　at　the　bustling　city　traffic　and　wondered　
briefly　whether　his　？somebody　special？　could　be　right　here；　before　his　very　eyes；　among　the　
masses。　Two　girls　sat　at　an　outdoor　table　in　front　of　the　Cos？　restaurant　across　the　street；　sipping　
lemonade　as　they　surveyed　the　passersby　from　behind　huge　sunglasses。　Across　from　them　sat　a　
guy　in　a　baseball　cap；　iced　coffee　in　hand；　reading　a　magazine。　He　looked　up　and　caught　Dan　
staring；　and　Dan　quickly　averted　his　eyes。　

？Soooo　。　。　。？　Greg　looked　over　at　his　closed　notebook。　？What　are　you　working　on？　Another　
futureNew　Yorker　poem？？　？Hah。？　Dan　snorted；　opening　the　notebook　and　holding　up　the　blank　
page。　？I？m　supposed　to　be　working　on　a　poem　for　Vanessa？s　sister？s　wedding；　but　I　can？t　think　of　
a　thing　to　say。　I　mean；　what　do　I　know　about　marriage？？　Greg　wiped　his　hands　on　his　jeans。　？All　
you　have　to　do　is　envision　the　person　you　love　most　in　the　world？the　person　you　want　to　wake　up　
with　in　the　morning　and　go　to　sleep　with　at　night。？　He　paused；　blushing　deeply　and　running　his　
hands　through　his　hair。　？Even　if　you　haven？t　met　that　person　yet？you　just　have　toimagine　them！　I　
mean；　with　me　and　。　。　。？　Greg　looked　sheepishly　at　the　ground。　？I　can？t　imagine　wanting　to　do　
those　things　withanyone　else；　you　know？？　？I　guess。？　Dan　stared　at　the　cracks　in　the　cement。　？I　just　
don？t　know　if　there？s　anyone　I　feel　like　that　about　。　。　。　any…more。？　He　closed　his　notebook　and　
tucked　it　back　inside　his　messenger　bag。　

Looking　at　Greg？s　feet；　Dan　noticed　he　was　wearing　black　socks　with　little　white　Paul　Frank　
monkey　faces　on　them。　Dan　didn？t　know　exactly　what　his　type　of　guy？er；　person？was　yet；　but　he　
was　pretty　darn　sure　his　soul　mate　didn？t　wear　monkey　socks。　

？I　mean；？　he　started　again；　looking　over　at　Greg；　who　was　listening　intently；　？how　will　I　know　
when　it？s　the　right　person？？　Greg　held　Dan？s　gaze　for　a　moment　before　standing　up。　He　slapped　
the　back　of　his　white　jeans　with　both　hands。　？You？ll　just　。　。　。　know；？　he　said　quietly。　？You？ll　know　
when　you　know。？　Dan　looked　out　again　at　the　sea　of　people　on　the　street？the　wide…eyed　tourists　
with　their　cameras；　the　skater　kids　who　flocked　to　Union　Square　in　the　summer；　the　NYU　students　
who　were　moving　into　their　apartments　a　few　weeks　early；　lugging　hand…me…down　furniture；　arms　
loaded　with　boxes。　In　the　few　minutes　that　he　and　Greg　had　been　sitting　here；　hundreds　of　people　
must　have　walked　past。　If　he　stayed　a　little　longer；　those　hundreds　would　soon　be　thousands。　How　
could　you　find　one　out　of　thousands？　Wouldn？t　it　take　forever？　

Greg　stuck　his　hands　into　his　pockets。　？You？ll　know　when　you　can？t　imagine　seeing　anyone　else　
after　the　day？s　over；　and　even　though　you　just　saw　them　a　few　hours　ago；　you　can？t　wait　t