At my lowest moment, I verbally ripped into an ex, intent on slicing him to visceral gore. Even though he probably wished someone would firebomb the bar rather than listen to another word of venom—

He instinctively leaned over and lit my cigarette.

I stormed away, shaking. Listening for footsteps.

Suzanne Mattaboni has published in Seventeen, Newsday, guideposts.com, Child, and “Chicken Soup for the Soul.” She is the author of the middle grade novel TACO GIRL.