Chapter]
The repopement partylingered in im mundter dan Everyword, every glance, every forced smile played a sophia Andre?Thudstoodthere, an unwilling audience boa mene Chadusparrin
The decision care Late
relless loep in my head Alex hadbeen sohappy, stores in his love for
night, when ind myself scaling through job postings insteadet sleping. Apoi caught my eye marketing manager at about gewy in New York It worn indes mandren this small town and, mae inprotantly, miles away from bilen.
se shop, the park where I went
My fingri femeiad met the “Apply” button. I knew what this meant – ferring belund not just Alex Indt terrdhing I’d built here. My routine, my Čaroncine coffee sho berlen de head Evecernenes of this town helida piece of ham, a piece of an
[chicked “Appl
head my decoms off with a trending hand.
“I love in offen yeni then posities. Can you start est month?
the other end said, her woke light and professional
“We“Bustabout hesitation, though my heartached at the finalevel li. “Thank you so much” Attey humping ing. I sat is silence, the weight of the decision settling over me. Thuldene it -1 was braving
(how carte the hardest part, telling des
1 trend him at the park, sitting in
such near the lake. It was one of our spots, a place where we’d spent countless afternoons talking about everything from college plans to favorite
I said sitting down beside him
Hey, “” he replied, flushing me a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “What’s up? You’ve been kind of MIA since the party”
“Yeah.” Land, hading with the stiap of my bag “I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
The turned to me, conerin etched access his face. “Everything okay H
1 hextrariet, kraning out at the water. “I got a new job.”
His own lifted in surprise. “That’s great, Lauren Congrats. Where?” |
The wen chi trương in the all between, heavy and unspoken
“New York?” he repeated, his voice quieter.
the leaned back again the bench, running a hand through his hair. “Wose That’s big. I didn’t know you were looking
‘Tadnited. “It just kind of happened”
for a moment, ther only sound the gentle lapping of the water against the shore
I miss you,” he said finally, his voice soft.
arder than fexpected. “I’ll mba y
“Why now?” he asked, martungisface nie.
you too”
[betated chasing my word coudly, “I think it’s time for a change. A fresh start.”
Hedded slowly, though his eyes searched mine ajal looking for mxi.
“New York’s lucky to have you.” hesa
uglediguy though it sounded
oventuma. “Thanks, Aler
(there a while kanget, neither of us willing to be the fit to leave.
Parking up my apart was harder than thought it would be very item told memory. The sad Market Alra hadi
ime when I moved in, wying. “You’ll need this for the coldwinen.“
The plots lane willi a picture of the
un at a Halloween party years ago, laughing so hard me could barely stand
Creminded me of that tour he’d diapped in
helping me umpark.
Hunding them buenoughly might shatter
memades they beli
The day lette I was set to leave, Alex showed up at any door mannanced
la said leaning against the doorframe “Can Frome in?”
He kadard and at the ball parked born and the bare wall wally happening, huh?”
dle picked up a frament photo from one of the loses it was a pictures
on of un at the lake, taken years ago I was gluing at the camera, but Alex was looking at me, his expression unreadable.
Í neadowedhard, unable to innat his apes. “Wlutate yandang lain, Alab
*d wasted tuner yor,” le said simply “letounyoni Iwapo,”
*Well, you’re seeing me,” i takt, my tone that per than 1 trætended.
ite flinched slightly but didn’t say anything
*I’m sorry, ” 1 uuid quickly, sighing, “It’s just this is hard”
Chapte
“I know,” he said, stepping clover. “But I get it, Lauren. You need this ”
I looked up at him, watching his face for amr sign of hesitation, am reason to believe he might ask me to stay.
But he didn’L
“I’m proud of you,” he saidalimi imament.
Tears sing my eyes, but I blinked them away. “Thanks”
He hesitated, as if debating whether to say more. But instead, he reached out and pulled me into a hug
It was the kind of hug that felt final, like a goodbye neither of us wanted to say
“Take care of yourself, okay?” he said, his voice muffled against my hair.
“You too,” I whispered.
When he pulled back, his eyes lingered on mine for a moment longer before turned and walked out the dou
The drive to New York felt surreal. As the miles stretched between me and the life I was leaving behind, a mix of emotions churned inside me–ass, bet, tear, and the faintest glimmer
I didn’t know what awaited me in this new
i new chapter of my life, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was moving forward.
As crossed the city limits, 1 whispered a silent goodbye to Alex, to the memories, to the version of myself who had spent so long waiting for something that would never come
It was time to let go
That night, as I unpacked the first box in my new apartment, 1 found the photo Alex had picked up the day before. I hadn’t realized I’d packed it.
Theld it for a long moment, tracing the edges with my fingers.
Then, carefully, I set it fare down in a drawer.
Because some numaries were too heavy to carry forward.
