Ghosted in Hollywood: 21 Years Later, He Says, “You’re the Girl Who Got Away.”

I want to know how the movie ends.

Photo by Vitaly Sacred on Unsplash

I came upon this meme the other day: “Retrosexual: Going back to an ex then blaming it on Mercury Retrograde.” Not usually a good idea, but I’ve been reviewing past relationships lately for insight into my wobbly marriage. Which is how I find myself across the table from Ed at Thai Dishes in Santa Monica. The waitress sets down our spring rolls and shrimp wrapped in fried noodles. I keep my eyes on Ed and get straight to the point.

“What happened?” I ask.

I’m referring to the brief romance Ed and I shared two decades back, before he vanished without a word. It’s been 21 years but he answers in under 21 seconds.

“It was too much,” he says, glancing down at his empty plate.

Then he looks up at me.

“I count that night at the Brown Hotel in London as one of the best moments of my life.”

I stare back, straining to understand.

“Then why did you run?”

I’d just turned 30 when I accompanied my friend Terri to a Dodgers game. As we settled into our assigned seats, Terri scanned the perimeter.