They Buried A Promise For Ten Years, They Broke It In Ten Minutes Chapter 06

They Buried A Promise For Ten Years, They Broke It In Ten Minutes Chapter 06

“Ms. Thompson? Welcome to the team.” 

The receptionist handed me an access card with my name already printed on it–Ava Thompson. 

I took it and hung it around my neck, then followed my new coworker down the hall. 

My desk was on the third floor by the window, with a small patch of ivy climbing the wall outside. 

On my first day, I put my phone in the drawer and 

set it to silent. 

I didn’t open it until after work. 

Twenty–seven unread messages. 

Ethan’s, Owen’s, Lily’s, and my mom’s. 

I opened my mom’s first. 

Mom: [Ava, Ethan called me and said you went to London? Why didn’t you tell me?] 

Ava: [I took a job in London. It happened fast. I’m 

fine.] 

Mom: [Did you two break up?] 

Ava: [Yes.] 

There was a long pause. 

Ten minutes later, she replied. 

Mom: [I trust your decision.] 

Mom: [Take care of yourself.] 

My eyes stung for a second. I bit my lip. 

Then I opened Ethan’s chat. 

Twenty messages. Voice and text. 

I started from the top. 

Ethan: [Ava, calm down and talk to me.] 

Ethan: [I know I messed up with the wine, but 

moving to another country is too much.] 

Ethan: [You’re just upset.] 

Ethan: [Come back when you’re done being upset.] 

Ethan: [When are you coming back?] 

By the fifteenth message, the tone shifted. 

Ethan: [Ava, I’ve been thinking. I have been 

ignoring you lately. I’ll change if you come back.] 

Ethan: [You won’t answer my calls or texts. How 

am I supposed to fix this?] 

Ethan: [You won’t even give me a chance to talk.] 

Ethan: [Five years, and you’re just ending it like 

this?] 

The last message from this morning: [I’m coming 

to see you.] 

I stared at those four words and froze for a 

second. 

Then I replied. 

Ava: [Don’t come. I won’t see you.] 

Ethan: [Too late. I already bought my ticket.] 

I stared at the screen, my fingers cold. 

He bought a ticket. 

He never went out of his way for me. 

I was stuck in a downpour for two hours, and he 

wouldn’t wait. I moved apartments by myself all 

day, and he played a game. Last year, I had a 

102°F fever, and he told me to drink water and 

rest. 

Now that I was gone, he bought a ticket to 

London. 

Was this regret or just wounded pride? 

I didn’t reply. 

I opened Owen’s chat. Five messages. 

Owen: [Are you serious?] 

Owen: [Why didn’t you say anything before you left?] 

Owen: [I called you three times and you didn’t answer.] 

Owen: [Ava, this is too much.] 

Owen: [Have you thought about how Ethan feels?] 

I read that last line twice. 

How Ethan feels. 

I wanted to ask–have you ever thought about how 

I feel? 

When did I become last on everyone’s list? 

Ava: [Owen, have you ever once asked me what was wrong?] 

He didn’t reply. 

That night, I walked through the streets of London alone. The streetlights glowed warm and yellow 

on the wet pavement. 

I passed a bar, loud laughter spilling out. 

I stood at the door for a moment, then kept 

walking. 

At my building, I looked up at my dark third–floor 

window. 

No one was waiting for me. 

But that wasn’t new. 

Back in that city, no one ever really waited for me 

either. 

The difference was, I didn’t know it then. 

Now I did. 

I went inside, set down my bag, and boiled water. 

My phone buzzed. A flight alert. 

Ethan had shared his itinerary. 

He’d arrive the day after tomorrow.