Slow Dance

Shiloh attends her friend Mikey’s second wedding. Her ex-husband Ryan is late picking up their two children, so Shiloh will miss the ceremony but make it to the reception. In her anger, Shiloh reflects on how she used to pride herself on her decision-making ability but had failed in her choice to marry Ryan.

Shiloh tries to fake her enjoyment at being reunited with all her old high school classmates at the reception, some of whom she never liked and some she doesn’t even remember. She’s mainly focused on finding one guest but doesn’t see “him” and remembers that he is in the Navy and often away. Shiloh turns her gaze to the wedding party and sees that Cary is a groomsman.

Shiloh waves to Cary and he leaves the head table to talk to her. Their exchange is awkward as they haven’t spoken in 14 years. Except for Facebook photos, they haven’t seen each other, but Shiloh notes that he’s handsome and “look[s] grown-up. Settled. He look[s] like he’[s] gotten out of North Omaha” (8). Cary lives in San Diego, where he’s stationed with the Navy.