Taylor wonders why Willa doesn’t want to talk about college, why she’s not more excited about being accepted into one of the best colleges in Ohio. Or maybe she just doesn’t want to talk to Taylor about these things. Maybe it only seemed like their friendship was starting to have legs.

“Definitely,” Taylor says. “But we’re not done with Central Park yet.”

As they continue, their pace is slower. Ambling. They pause to watch the little kids playing in the playground. The clank of baseballs against metal bats rings out as they pass the ball fields. They stop to ride the carousel, where Taylor chooses a tawny horse with a wheat-colored mane and Willa climbs astride a brown horse wearing battle armor. Taylor snaps an instant shot and hands the photo to her as the carousel begins to turn. “Willa Rose Ryan, First of her Name, Queen of Goodwill, Seducer of Coasties, Conqueror of Thunderstorms.”

Willa laughs. “Okay, give me that camera.”

She takes a picture of Taylor and hands it back. “Taylor Marie Nicholson, First of her Name, Chronicler of Watery Road Trips, Vanquisher of Locks, Ruler of the Mosh Pit.”

Taylor looks down at the image of a girl on a horse whose mane matches her own, then smiles at Willa. “Those are good titles. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

They visit the John Lennon Memorial, where Taylor takes a photo of them lying on the ground with the word IMAGINE above their heads. They take turns sitting beside Hans Christian Andersen and scaling the Alice in Wonderland statue. When she runs out of instant film, Taylor switches to the camera on her phone. They stop at a gift shop to buy a New York City snow globe to go with the one from Niagara Falls. Finally, they end up at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they sit on the steps and people-watch until the sun begins to fade.

“This has been an awesome day,” Willa says as they ride the subway back to the mooring field. “I needed it. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

Taylor considers telling her about Vanessa. Maybe she can trust Willa with this secret. She sits up a little taller in her seat, summoning her courage. She can almost taste the words in her mouth. Then Willa’s eyes flutter closed and Taylor loses her nerve. In the end, she swallows what she was going to say and looks out the window into the subterranean darkness.

Willa