Chapter 6 The day of the meeting, I didn't tell my parents. After last time, they'd stopped mentioning Jake entirely. Just said they'd support whatever I chose. The meetup was never real-just payback for him walking out on me. Remembered my passport was still at Jake's place. Took a long lunch to grab it. Voices from the master bedroom. Jake's ragged breathing. "Stop. I'm meeting Sophie's parents later." "We have time, don't we?" "Last time I was drunk. This can't happen again. I'll give you anything else, but not this." Her voice turned tearful: "I'm not asking for forever. Just these stolen moments. You'll get married soon-before then, can't we have no regrets…" Words dissolved into other sounds. I couldn't listen anymore. Went to the study, opened the safe. My passport. And all our old memories. Every love letter Jake wrote. Handmade gifts. Even the photo from our first time-he'd insisted on keeping it. He'd said: "Only sleeping with one person your whole life? That's so romantic!" Funny how hearts change. Good memories don't protect you from anything. I took my passport and left. Four PM. Finished my last day at the company. Jake and I were supposed to meet at three. He hadn't called. Mr. Punctuality was too busy with Mia to remember. Probably forgot entirely. I laughed bitterly. Some revenge. Revenge only works on people with consciences. Whatever. I lost. Not to Jake. Not to Mia. To my old self-the one who loved without holding back.