Two friends made a promise to share their Powerball winnings. They ended up with $22 million. Things might feel very different with $1.6 billion on the line in Monday’s drawing.

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Chris flipped the crumpled lottery ticket between his fingers, remembering the promise he had made to Lena: “If we ever win, we share.” He smiled at the memory, a pact forged on long nights of cheap coffee and dreams too big for their tiny apartment.

Now, with the Powerball jackpot at an eye-popping $1.6 billion for Monday’s drawing, Chris and Lena found themselves caught up in the frenzy. It was the fourth-largest Powerball prize ever, and millions were picking numbers, talking about patterns, “lucky” digits, and whether Quick Pick or careful selection was the smarter play.

Friends texted strategies: pick birthdays, avoid common dates, or spread numbers across multiple tickets. But Chris knew the odds still sat near 1 in 292 million, almost nothing. Still, millions played anyway because hope, once lit, is hard to snuff out.

Lena grinned as she marked her playslip. “Whatever happens,” she said, nudging him, “promise you’ll keep your word?” Chris nodded, heart full. Win or lose, they would share not just the jackpot, but the dream.