1 Chapter 1:

With the rain hitting my face, my bare feet pounded the sidewalks of the City of Chicago. Clutching whatever was on me at the time, I ran out of my apartment as fast as I could. All negative thoughts followed suit.

I had to take a moment to collect myself and decide what to do. I didn’t have anywhere to go. My parents are all the way in India and I didn’t know many friends here. Running my mind in circles, I finally decided to run to the only person I knew would accept me.

Samir Yadav. My best friend.

You’re probably confused at this point, thinking “are you hurt?”

Physically? No. Emotionally? Definitely, yes.

My name is Jazmine Agarwal, I’m a 20 year old college student and tonight, I was cheated on.

I walked into my apartment after work, where I live with my boyfriend, Rahul, and found him on the couch with my cousin. I slowly backed away, and just left. I really should have known after seeing them flirting at last year’s Christmas party. So many people warned me, but of course I trusted him.

I kept walking for what felt like forever, but thankfully I looked up to see Samir’s building in front of me. A wave of familiarity washed over me and I remembered the past years flash before my eyes. The sweet smell of jasmine flowers wafted over to me, even through the wet environment.

I reached for the answering machine’s call button, pressed it and thought to myself, “I wonder what he’ll think of me just showing up...all wet. I’m sure he’ll just be concerned and welcoming. He’s always been like that. Warm, kind, and just so loving.”

My inner thoughts were interrupted by Samir’s sleepy voice.

“Hello? Who is it?”

“It’s me...Jaz.”

“You know what? I can’t hear you, just come on up.”

The buzzer went off and I let myself into a beautifully decorated lobby. The temperature changed from chilly to liveable. I rubbed my arms in a failed attempt to warm myself up. Looking to my right, I was met with the concerned look of an old man.

“Ma’am, can I help you?”

Sheepishly I replied, “Hi...I’m here to see Samir Yadav. He said to come up through the answering machine.”

“Of course, just take the elevator to the third floor and it should be 3B.”

“Thank you for the help.”

I entered the elevator and realized I was trailing water behind me. I looked up just in time to catch the old man looking at my trail in disappointment.

I could only think, “great, now you have a cheating boyfriend, a fever and cold, and a disappointed manager. Good going.”

Leaving the self-deprecating thoughts in the elevator, I walked over to Samir’s door and rang the bell. My heart beat raced as the doorknob turned.

“Hey. What’s going on?” his voice was filled with distress as his eyes panned the length of my cold, wet body. “Please tell me you’re not hurt.”

“Only emotionally.” I ran into his arm and an unpermitted sob left my body.

“Come on, let's get you warmed up and out of these clothes.”

The feeling of safety enveloped me. A feeling that has been so foreign to me since I stopped talking to Samir. We had grown apart for a year or so, but being in his presence again, I could tell nothing had changed.

He was the same boy that pulled on the curls in my hair, and I was the same girl that fell for my best friend.