They Buried A Promise For Ten Years, They Broke It In Ten Minutes Chapter 05

They Buried A Promise For Ten Years, They Broke It In Ten Minutes Chapter 05

“Would you like a blanket? We’re at cruising 

altitude now.” 

The flight attendant leaned down, and I nodded. 

With the blanket over my legs, I stared out the window. Pitch black, except for the blinking red light on the wing. 

I’d switched my phone to airplane mode before takeoff. 

But I already knew what would be waiting for me when I landed. 

Or maybe nothing. 

The London morning was cold and damp. 

Outside Heathrow, the air smelled like rust and damp grass. 

I turned my phone back on, and the messages flooded in. 

Ethan: [You asleep?] 

Ethan: [Ava?] 

Ethan: [I called and your phone was off. What’s 

going on?] 

Owen: [Ava, is your phone broken? Ethan’s been 

trying to reach you all morning.] 

Lily: [Ava, Ethan seems really worried. Could you 

reply?] 

I stood in the arrivals hall, suitcase beside me, 

reading through them. 

Then I opened Ethan’s chat and typed. 

Ava: [I’m in London. New job. I’ll be staying here. 

Don’t look for me.] 

Sent. 

I put my phone away and looked for the shuttle 

bus. 

My phone vibrated like crazy in my pocket. I didn’t 

check it. 

It wasn’t until I got on the bus and found a seat 

that I pulled it out. 

Ethan had sent twelve messages. 

Ethan: [What do you mean, London?] 

Ethan: [Are you kidding me?] 

Ethan: [Ava, explain yourself.] 

Ethan: [What new job? When did you apply? Why 

didn’t you tell me?] 

Ethan: [Call me.] 

Ethan: [Ava!] 

Ethan: [Why aren’t you answering?] 

Ethan: [Where the hell are you?] 

Ethan: [Come back.] 

Ethan: [I’m serious. Come back.] 

Ethan: [Have you lost your mind?] 

Ethan: [Are you breaking up with me?] 

I stared at those last three words. 

Break up. 

I never said that. 

But it was the first thing he assumed. 

That told me he knew exactly why I would. 

I typed two words. 

Ava: [I am.] 

The typing indicator flickered, disappeared, 

flickered again. 

Three minutes later, he sent a voice message. 

I didn’t open it. 

Owen messaged me too. 

Owen: [What do you mean you’re in London? Who 

told you you could go?] 

Who told me I could go? 

I almost laughed. 

Since when did I need anyone’s permission? 

Ava: [I don’t need permission.] 

Owen: [Are you throwing a tantrum? Because of 

the wine thing?] 

Ava: [No.] 

Owen: [Then why?] 

I thought for a moment. 

Ava: [Because I’m invisible when I’m with you 

guys.] 

Then I muted both conversations. 

The bus moved through the edge of London. Low buildings turned into dense streets. A red double–decker passed in the opposite direction. 

Everything was unfamiliar. 

And that unfamiliarity felt safe. 

My phone buzzed again. A number I didn’t 

recognize. 

I answered. 

It was Lily. 

“Ava? You actually went to London?” 

She sounded upset, like she might cry. 

“Ethan’s here with me. He’s really shaken up. Can 

you please talk to him?” 

He’s here with me. 

Less than half an hour after I sent the breakup 

message, he went to Lily. 

“There’s nothing to say.” 

“But Ava, leaving like this is so sudden-” 

“Lily.” I cut her off. “It only feels sudden because 

you never paid attention.” 

Silence for two seconds. 

Then Ethan’s voice came through, like he’d 

snatched the phone. 

“Ava, you need to explain yourself!” 

“Explain what?” 

“Why did you go to London? When did you get a 

job? Why didn’t you say a single word to me?” 

Every sentence was an accusation. 

Not one of them was I’m sorry. 

I said, “Have you ever actually noticed me?” 

“What?” 

“Do you know when I quit? Do you know I’ve been 

packing for two weeks? Do you know I wore 

makeup to that dinner?” 

He went quiet. 

“You don’t know anything. You only know Lily 

made tiramisu. Lily got a new cat. Lily has a guy at 

work chasing her.” 

“Don’t bring Lily into this-‘ 

“I’m not.” I said. “You’re the one who always puts 

her first.” 

“You’re being unreasonable-‘ 

“We’re done.” 

I hung up. 

Then I blocked the number. 

The bus reached my stop. 

I got off, suitcase in hand, and looked up at the 

street sign. 

New city. New job. New life. 

No reason to look back.