She always preferred the boys that couldn't be there.
The ones across state lines, across space & time.
The ones she couldn't touch when she wanted, who couldn't touch her when she needed.
Whose witty words in a midday e-mail could make her laugh or cry, depending on the day.
Boys to whom playlists were dedicated, as her half-filled notebook became neglected when things got
too good
or too hard
or too average.
Sleeping beyond her reach - in the cities she loved as much as she did them.