“Yeah, that’s one way to look at it,” the girl said. “Look, no doubt she’s gonna be fucked up forever about it. But think about it. She now gets to live her whole life knowing some boy loved her so much that he died for her! I mean, if that’s not power, then I don’t know what is. She can be like a superhero with magical love powers or something, you know? Once the smoke clears, and she stops feeling like shit about it, she’s gonna feel good forever. ’Cause she will always know she’s worthy of some big-ass type of super love. Girl, sorry, I don’t know what’s gotten into me lately. Normally I’m a total pessimist about love and shit. But this story, I dunno … it just makes me hopeful. About love, you know?”

“Yeah, I do know what you mean,” Anna said, standing up and stubbing out her cigarette. “I have to get home. But it was great talking to you. And I’m sorry for your loss. I know your boyfriend really loved you, too.”

“Oh yeah?” the girl asked. “You don’t even know him, so how the hell do you know that?”

Anna shrugged and then smiled. “I just know. One of my superpowers, I guess.”

“Cool,” she said. “Hey, then you should have this. I was gonna keep it because I found it, but a love superhero should have it instead. It can be your logo like Superman’s ‘S.’”

The girl flicked something at Anna, something shiny and silver. Anna thought it was a coin, rotating in the air, and she watched as it arced through the air before she reached out and grabbed it.

“It’s a little smushed. I think it got run over by a train, but it’s cooler that it’s not perfect because love ain’t ever perfect,” she said. “You can still read it though.”

Anna looked down in wonder at the object she was now holding in the palm of her hand. It was bent and scuffed, but it was still somewhat heart-shaped.

It was the silver charm Alexia had given her for Valentine’s Day, the one he had been holding when he died. She stared at the word ME printed on one side, and then flipped it over to the other side and smiled at the word YOU.

“Thank you,” Anna said. “I promise to keep it forever.” Anna waved to the girl as she walked toward the stairs, on her way back home to bed, with his heart in her pocket. She needed to get home, tear up some letters, and go to sleep, because tomorrow she was flying off to start her new life, stronger now, because a boy she loved with all her heart had loved her more. And she deserved it.

Author's Note
When Jenny Met Anna