Chapter 3

That night, I drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, the kind that leaves you feeling refreshed yet disoriented upon waking.

I didn’t stir until the sun was high in the sky, its rays filtering through the blinds. By the time I shuffled into the living room, the clock had already struck noon. The master bedroom door stood slightly ajar, but Jonas Peterson was conspicuously absent.

On the dining table, a note caught my eye:

'I meant to take you to dinner yesterday, but I got tied up at the art gallery.'

'I’ll make it up to you tonight—our anniversary deserves a proper celebration. Can you forgive me?'

Beside the note lay a small photograph of us, our hands intertwined. Jonas had shrunk it down, framing it with an almost clinical precision, as if to showcase a love that felt distant, forced.

Without hesitation, I ripped the photo to shreds, tossing both the note and the remnants into the trash.

In the early days of our relationship, Jonas battled severe OCD, though he fought tooth and nail to conquer it. While other couples strolled across campus hand in hand, Jonas and I maintained a foot and a half of distance, connected only by a thin piece of string.

I could sense his genuine fear of physical closeness and never pressured him. Even our first kiss was separated by a pane of glass.

'Madison,' he’d whispered, his ears flushed crimson, tears brimming in his eyes, 'once I beat this, you’ll be the first person I truly hold.'

Instead of frustration, I felt a surge of affection for this quirky, vulnerable boy. No matter how long it took, I was determined to stand by him.

Lost in these bittersweet memories, I was snapped back to reality by the shrill ring of an unknown number. Leaning back in my chair, I answered the call, greeted by a voice I hadn’t heard in months:

'Madison, I’m joining the international office next month. It’s been six months since we last saw each other. How about we grab drinks in a couple of days?'

It was April Martinez, a former colleague from my old job. We’d worked side by side, forming a bond that transcended the office walls.

Back then, I’d left my job to care for Jonas, sacrificing my career and social life to ensure he felt secure.

As we chatted, April mentioned she was moving to a newly listed company with better opportunities.

'Madison, once I’m gone, who knows when we’ll see each other again? I’ve booked a table for dinner, and you absolutely have to come!'

Clearing my throat, I hesitated before asking, 'Do you think they have any job openings? I might just tag along with you.'

A brief pause followed, then a squeal of delight.

'You’re serious? You really want to move abroad?'

I confirmed with a mix of excitement and trepidation, and April’s enthusiasm was infectious.

'Absolutely! With your skills, top companies would be lining up to hire you.'

'Hang tight, I’ll wrap things up here, and we can hash out the details in person!'