The Space Where You Were by Nina Denison
The Space Where You Were begins sharply with a vivid depiction of edgy encounters at a college party, causing the reader to wonder what transpired between Diana, a college sophomore, and her ex-boyfriend Leo, whom she began seeing in high school. Diana is hit with heavy nostalgia while returning to Leo's grandmother's home, a place that once made her feel safe. Tension flares while she observes her so-called friends betraying her trust. They do this by invading Leo's grandmother's home and disregarding her treasured belongings: dusty mahogany, crystal ashtrays, and formal living room. Diana's friends also betray her trust by ignoring unspoken boundaries created by former couples. Overall, The Space Where You Were is a taut, haunting short-story that eloquently depicts the loss one feels while transitioning from youth into adulthood. Very often it's not the individuals one misses, but a time, place, and slipping-away version of oneself. For