My Childhood Sweetheart Asked Me to Sign a Special Folder in Room Four Hundred Seven

the high hospital bed, my white sneakers squeaking on the waxed linoleum.

Inside the locket was a tiny, faded black-and-white photograph, cut into a rough oval that did not quite fit the metal frame, leaving a little gap of gray paper at the top.

It was a picture of me in my yellow sunsuit, squinting into the Ohio sun while Ben stood beside me, holding continue reading …