Noah and Angel were childhood sweethearts and teenage lovers. With youth comes unrealistic ideas sometimes, and also bad choices. But just about the time they reach manhood, Noah’s demons pull them apart.<br><br>Seven years later, he gets a second chance when Angel returns to town. Hoping everything can be different, Noah sets out to remind him how wonderful their past was by secretly sending him thirteen gifts commemorating their happiest times, one on each day beginning December 11.<br><br>By Christmas Eve, Noah hasn’t heard a word back, and wonders if Angel even recognized the meaning of the offerings. When Angel does get in touch, he only remembers the bad things that drove them apart. Can Noah remind him how good they had it, too?

The Presents and the Past

“It doesn’t matter what I want. You have to go.”


“You don’t, at least. Thank God I didn’t screw everything up for you here.”


“Tell me I can come back, though…or swear you’ll come to me. Just tell me we can have another chance. I love you.”


Angel wouldn’t say the three words back to me. “I hate this feeling,” he said instead. “All of them…how they get all mixed up whenever I’m with you. I can’t do it anymore. You’re all out of chances, Noah.” Then, as the train pulled in, he touched my cheek one final time before turning his back to say the word I dreaded most. “Goodbye.”


“I don’t like to remember the last time Angel touched me.” That was the all I offered Troy as I returned from the journey I’d taken in my mind. “But I can…quite vividly.” My hand hadn’t moved from my cheek.


Chapter 4