Past Lives

By Sarah Zhang

Over wine, the women whispered stories of virginity lost. Sasha offered a tale of premature ejaculation and an impromptu trip to the pharmacy, followed by burgers at the diner across the street—his treat. What would your husband think? the others teased. As the laughter faded into the next story, Sasha’s gaze became unfocused. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe it was the memory of that walk into town, a walk that felt sweet and not shameful. The wind was raw that afternoon and neither of them had worn gloves, so Rob took her hand and tucked it into his pocket.