She said, “I don’t ever think about back then… everything I’ve read on the matter suggests it’s best to be in the now.”

I realized in that moment I had been the force in this direction. No doubt driven by a 15 years absence in contact.

“I can’t change anything from back there and I don’t want to feel guilt or shame about it.”

I will keep my large dirty secrets nuzzled in the darkened silence of chitchat masks of the now and live with that, my dear.

Dennis Mantin