The other side of the divorce papers

or slamming door, but with a stack of emotionless legal documents. The papers had arrived without fanfare, delive

ands trembled slightly as she re-read the clauses, the language cold and impersonal. Words like irreconcilab

ad gifted him for their anniversary, a pair of shoes by the closet door. But he had not slept beside her in nearl

e top page. It

it

e at the bot

-

rk, responding to emails, guiding students through conflicts and crises as

was the absence of reason. Ryan hadn't sat down with her.

ing wa

-

or appearing when Lena most needed her, whether it was breakup ice c

to a messy bun and her oversized sunglasses making her

lacing a brown paper bag and two large coffees on the kitchen

abrasive to some, but to her, it had always bee

ing a good look at her friend. Her smile fa

ed away.

not. And t

ttle of it there was. Ryan's absence. His coldness. The slap. The papers.

nsed. "That so

r coffee. "I just d

d good reasons

here's more to

, frowning. "Like w

. But Ryan... he's not even pretending anymor

cross her face, uncertainty, maybe guilt. B

ing to figure him out. Maybe it's

-

he sat on the edge of his neatly made bed, her fingers tracing the navy-blue comf

dresser. One drawe

a black lea

s, and design ideas. He'd never let her read them. But

overed ove

open

rchitectural layouts, project notes, client names. Bu

he way she listens when no one else does. Lena wo

a f

h

ipped

r deadlines. But somewhere between the late-night mess

lse th

e p

But Emily... she understands me

pped the

tting the floor ec

il

, her breath catc

o

Not

-

t Ryan's jokes. Ryan playfully calling her "Red Devil." Their consta

friendship. A quirky

she saw it

e. The perfume she couldn't place. Emily brushing off qu

ened ins

r beside the journal,

st bet

is bet

people she

-

oved slowly, methodically. She folded the divorce papers, p

up her phone a

e talk lat

gined Emily reading the message, calculatin

use wa

er, somethin

t grief

st con

here w

st flickers

-

m wasn't

already

wasn't going t

this