“Go on.” He smiled at her and for a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her again.

“I’m looking down to see the shadow of a plane, skimming over the ground. I’m thinking that the shadow was in fact another, hidden, plane, which only existed when the sun shone, revealing it to the world. I have lived so much of my life like that plane. Hiding, waiting for the light to shine on me.”

“I take it that’s a no.”

So much time spent pushing people away, but she had never really been alone. There had always been someone to check up on her, even when her grandmother was away on a book tour, or had meetings in town. Charlie, the vicar, even that man and his dog, and now Tyler.

“Nashville is your dream, and if I came with you I’d only end up regretting it.” An idea for a story began to form in her mind. A map made out of the memories of thousands of people, each of them unique yet somehow linked by the paths they tread. Ophelia grown up, exploring secrets, like an excavator of the truth, reuniting people with objects, memories they thought were lost forever.

“Sounds pretty final.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be.” He blew out a long breath of acceptance. “I was unfair to you and Phoebe. Even before that, with the whole enormous mess of it all.”

“Neither of us asked for this to happen.”

“I’m glad that it did. I’m glad I got to see you again, to remember who I used to be, when we were young.” He stood, then pulled her to her feet and kissed her, once, on the cheek.

She watched him walk away, bent down to pick up her bag and sketchbook, noticed something tucked into the inside cover. A postcard, on the front of which was a picture of a bright red bird, wings open as it soared toward a setting sun. Turning it over, she saw where he had scribbled a few lines, the letters almost jumping around on the paper as she tried to read through her tears.

To me, you are a phoenix.

Brilliantly colored with a fire that burns deep inside.

But when the rhythms of your heart can only cry,

Know that I think of you.

Because you are my reason,

You make me want to try.

He’s my Noah, Emily gasped as she looked up, saw Tyler at the very edge of the lawn, one hand reaching out to open the gate, poised and ready to leave.

“Wait.” The word was no more than a whisper as she felt it catch against her heart. “Wait,” she said again, then began to run as he turned his head to smile.

Arms around his neck, she kissed him deeply. In that moment, she forgot it all. Forgot the pull of scar tissue across her cheek, the ache along her spine, the years spent hiding away, believing she wasn’t deserving of love. In that moment, she became once more the girl she used to be. A girl kissed on a summer’s night, with all the hopes and possibilities of tomorrow flickering inside her heart.