When Forever Ended by Cara Dee

At ten years old, Kelly and I were two rambunctious boys who carved our initials into a tree in the forest and promised to be best friends forever. At forty-three, it’d been twenty-four years since I’d last seen him—after I’d foolishly kissed him—and depression was threatening to suffocate me.

Not even my wife and two children could lift the fog. I was riddled with guilt and self-hatred, and I knew I was slowly but surely fading away.

Then one day, Kelly was back in town.