Abandoned In Paris, Reborn In London

tte He

t black rectangle. I picked it up, not out of habit, but out of a vague need to check the time. My thum

ning into him, her head on his shoulder, his hand casually resting on her waist. A candid shot, apparently. Or perfectly staged. Doesn' t matter. In another, they were

s. It was all so predictable, so utterly draining. The same old story, just a different filter. I tossed

eagues-it was all clean, purposeful, a stark contrast to the emotional mess waiting for me at home. I plunged into market an

messaging system. My boss, Mr. Harrison. "Ch

f performance anxiety. But this time, it was differ

rge mahogany desk. He looked pleased, a rare expression. "I've just gott

promotion, that international transfer, for Damion. He'd been insistent. "New York is our home, Charlotte. And what

ly neutral. "That's... surprising

0% in Q2 alone. London noticed. They're pushing harder this time. The offer is still on the table, with an even better package, and a fast-track to Senior Marketing Director within

etly yearned for. A fresh start. A challenge. A chance to be me, unburdened.

an I expected. "Nothing is holding me back no

Well, Charlotte, that's certainly a big step. But professionally, it mea

e smile finally breakin

gs, and excited phone calls with the London team. M

closest work friends, asked, leaning into my cubicle. "A

eplied, feeling a lightness

ked up, and my heart sank with a dull thud. Damion. He stood there, holding a ridiculously la

too loudly across the office floor. He pushed

us glint in her eyes. "Oh, look what the ca

olleagues, daring them to comment. "I brou

ow... traditional. Don't you know Charlotte is more of a pe

cent of the roses was cloying.

tte. It's urgent." He grabbed my arm, his grip

tepping forward. "Charlotte already has p

ant. It concerns us. Charlotte, come

, as usual. "It's fine, Liam," I said, my voice weary. "I'll just

ve him a small, almost imperceptible shake of m

's back by dinner. I'll even treat you all to a round of drinks tonight, for the inconveni

on Sarah's desk.

ling me towards the elevator. As the doo

do you?" he asked, a hint

a difficult client meeting. "Hm? Oh. No, the

ses once," he persisted, a

in my chest. "Remember? I told you that, like, a year ago,

.. I must have forgotten. I'm sorry, Ch

allergy to red roses was just a footnote in his self-centered narrative. He' d forgotten in precisely the same way he' d forgotten countless other details about me, about us. My favorite foods, my career ambitions, m

y voice flat. The words were a

e car braking smoo

field. A sleek private jet gleaming on the ta

onfusion momentarily break

ace, a rare sight. It was a look I hadn't seen in yea

no Eve. Just a few days in Paris. To reconnect. To remember why we fell i

But he was trying. I almost mentioned the pictures Eve had posted from a previous trip weeks ago, pictures of her

trip, just for us. The realization was stark. He' d taken Eve to Paris, to London, to countless other exotic locales. But never me. Not

, the indifferent Charlotte, simply saw an opportunity. A final, elegant exit. This wasn't a fresh start. This was a graceful goodbye. I wou

" I asked, m

ud glint in his eyes. "Had my assi

o my promotion, I had plenty of vacation days to burn before I started. A few days in