Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Life has a way of creating distance . Months passed without any news of each other , and I made sure to keep it that way . I even asked my parents not to mention the Carters or anything about their family . College life at Stanford was exactly the distraction I needed . Between joining the photography club , volunteering at the campus radio station , and juggling a full course load , I barely had time to think about the past . The California sun had a way of burning off old memories . Looking back , it seemed almost laughable how Id centered my entire world around one person . Ironically , I found myself agreeing with something Aiden had once said why tie yourself down so young when theres a whole world to explore ? 0 I was grateful for choosing Stanford . Sure , the earthquakes took some getting used to , and the rent prices were insane , but there was something magical about a place where flowers bloomed year round . Id already forgotten what East Coast winters felt like . During winter break , my old lab partner Emma visited the Bay Area , and Maya and I took her to this amazing brunch spot in San Francisco . Inevitably , Aidens name came up . He and Madison barely lasted a month , Emma said , stirring her mimosa . Now hes working his way through every sorority at Columbia . Total player . You wouldnt even recognize him completely different from the intense valedictorian we knew in high school . Its like watching someone have a quarter life crisis at nineteen . I stayed quiet , pushing my avocado toast around the plate . Maya shot Emma a warning look , quickly changing the subject to her latest startup idea . On New Years Eve , Maya and I went to a rooftop party overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge . During the countdown , she nudged me to make a wish . It wasnt until later that I realized something for the first time , my wish had nothing to do with Aiden . For six years straight , every birthday candle , every shooting star , every 11:11 had been about him . Now , I was finally writing my own story . The real test came during winter break of freshman year . Homesickness hit hard after finals , and I booked the first flight home I could get . But walking through arrivals , my heart stopped . There , standing between my parents with that familiar half smile , was Aiden . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!