Little Love Tokens by Carly Keene

JESSICA:
I can’t say nothing ever changes in Dogwood Falls. I love the new economic developments.
It’s just that nothing ever seems to change for me.
I’m still here working at the bank. Still stuck. Still alone.
The same way I’ve been since Ward moved away twelve years ago, when we were teenagers.
Every time I look for him on social media, I’m forced to admit defeat. He’s just not there.
But one day, I look up from the teller’s desk and see him—here.
It feels like time started ticking again.
And the way he’s looking at me tells me that he’s here for me.

WARD:
Moving away from my hometown when my dad got a job all the way across the country was hard.
Being a teenager is hard enough, without losing the person who knows you best.
I lost the person who loved me.
Now that I’m out of the army and back in Dogwood Falls, I can’t wait to see Jess.
My Jess. I gave her half of an engraved coin before I left, and I kept the other half.
Seeing that she still wears my token on a chain around her neck tells me that she never gave up on me.
Even when I gave up on myself.
Does love ever give people another shot?