No. 201X-18 KEATS AND I HUNG OUT the day after the subway incident, a sunny Wednesday, and everything seemed normal again. We made it to the Strand that time, and even though I felt tentative from the day before, he was übercharming, buying me an amazing illustrated edition of Moby Dick, finding us a secluded corner in the poetry section to make out. To be honest, it scared me a little, how normal he seemed, as if the day before had never happened. But maybe that was okay. The subway incident had really sucked. That afternoon, as we made out amid the comforting smell of musty old books, I felt myself relax into him again, my body ease into the shape of him. The way he kissed the spot under my ear, I felt a little dizzy. Maybe this was his gift, to make it all go away. My gift to him: never telling him or anyone about reading his “Wonder Wheel” story. • • • By the time the weekend rolled around, I was wound up with energy and practically jumping with excitement about the Nevermore release party, like Beaker from the Muppets.
