Chapter 6

The next few days, Ethan didn’t come looking for me.

I was relieved. I spent my days running to the embassy, filing paperwork, saying goodbyes to old colleagues. It was busy, peaceful.

My best friend Emma came to keep me company, dragging me out to eat and shop every day, calling it my “post-scumbag rebirth celebration.”

Truth was, I’d stopped being sad a long time ago. Real heartbreak wasn’t loud. It was when you couldn’t even muster the energy to hate.

Meanwhile, Ethan was retracing every step of our seven years together.

He went to the coffee shop near our old university—the place of our first date. Back when he was chasing me, he used to take the subway for half an hour just to bring me a latte. Later, he decided the place was too shabby and never stepped foot in it again.

The owner recognized him and smiled. “Long time no see! Your girlfriend used to tell me you loved their hot chocolate.”