It’s been 6 years since I’ve seen Steven. We were in the class of 2014 at Eagle Rock High. A picnic table by the water fountain was our spot for those four years. Lunch started at 12:40 everyday after I would die waiting for the bell to ring in 4th period, and I would walk out into the stuffy hallway, out the door and towards our table. Sharing funny class stories and gossip, Steven and I grew closer and closer, yet it was like there was an insanely clear piece of glass between us, you don’t know it’s there until you run full speed into it and get thrown back. He was my best friend. Our friendship was like a puzzle with a missing piece right in the middle. We hung out so often that I began to wonder why I felt so disconnected from him? He’s so thoughtful and funny, I enjoy his company. When I’m alone, the image of him lingers in the back of my mind. It doesn’t bother me, I enjoy his company even though he’s not there. I never knew what it was like to have a crush. The thought of a girlfriend in high school never interested me, maybe I could see myself with Steven? Before I was able to figure out my love life, we graduated as Class of 2014. I went to college and went to Harvard Medical School. One day, I was looking through my messages and saw an unfamiliar number, the text read, “Hey Nick! It’s Steven from high school. Remember me? I was wondering if we could get dinner sometime to catch up. Let me know :)”. My heart was pounding! Super cheesy, I know. Steven was my best friend but there was always tension between us, well I'm not sure if he felt the tension but I did. Dinner? Isn’t that some sort of romantic thing? I’m sure he means that in a totally platonic way. A few days have passed, we have dinner reservations set on a Friday night, two days from now. I need to figure out what to wear, what to say, everything! My life isn’t very interesting, I’m just a medical student studying to become a surgical intern. I spend my weekends at the dog park and playing video games. I am the definition of boring! It’s Friday morning and I am freaking out. I know this isn’t a date but the thought of seeing him again brings me so much joy. I start to get ready, taking my sweet time. There’s no traffic tonight, odd for a Friday night. I’m listening to the news on the radio to hear that there's a serial killer on the loose. I don’t think much of it and keep driving. I step into the restaurant and take a look around, I feel calm. The small flickering candles in the center of each table bring a nice feeling to the restaurant. I’m a few minutes early so I wait for Steven. A tall man walks in, it’s him. The serial killer on the radio, he fits the description of the man, but it’s also Steven. I smile trying to act calm. What do I do… no one else seems to notice him so we take a seat at the back of the restaurant. He’s so charming and kind, just like I remember him. He tells me he’s studying to become a surgeon as well at Stanford. I tell him about my experience in medical school. Then he asks me why I stopped talking to him after high school. His face shows anger. I must’ve hurt him so badly just cutting him off. For each second I look at him the more he fits the description of the dangerous man on the radio. Our food comes and I give the waiter a horrified look, they look at me with confusion and walk away chuckling. I take a bite of my food, I’m too scared to savor my meal. I’m trying to eat quickly without acting suspicious. The door is on the other side of the building. Empty tables surround us as we dine in the back of this restaurant. We talk about our experiences in school and how we manage the workload. The restroom is right behind us so I don’t get a way out through there. Steven keeps steering the conversation to the end of high school, when our friendship ends. My hands tremble so I keep them under the table where I wipe the sweat on the smooth, white table cloth. We’re done eating and I say that I left my wallet in the car. He stares at me with confusion, he probably thinks that I’m gonna dine n’ dash. He pays for our dinner and

we walk out into the fresh air. I could make a run for it, I could be overreacting as well. He’s given me no evidence that he’s the serial killer from the radio. I start to calm down and he invites me to his house for a second glass of wine. Feeling pressured into going, I accept his invitation. We arrive, his house isn’t big but it is beautifully decorated. An extravagant chandelier hangs over our heads in his dining room. He walks out of the room to get wine from the pantry. I’m mesmerized by all the beautiful paintings and pieces he owns. A door creaks open and everything turns dark. I can’t see a single thing. A glass shatters and a sharp piece of something hits the back of my head. I fall to the floor.