Chapter 4

Ethan had sent dozens of texts this morning.

First, he told me to hurry up and come. Then, he asked why I canceled the campsite reservations.

I refunded the money back to whoever paid for what and sent him a brief reply.

“You guys can rebook under Juliet's plan.”

He took a long time to answer.

“Juliet wasn't feeling well last night and I was busy taking care of her. I don't have time for this. Just rebook them.”

I ignored it.

At noon, Dad went to finalize the tow truck arrangements.

Mom accompanied me to the bus terminal to retrieve the bag I left at the gas station.

Ethan’s pack was still stuffed tight, though a sleeve of stomach medicine was missing.

Mrs. Lloyd told me that when they came back for the gear, Ethan’s stomach was acting up, so he pulled the meds from his bag.

"Your boyfriend praised you for being so thorough," she added. "He said once you cooled off, you'd come find him."

I zipped my pack and corrected her. "He's not my boyfriend anymore."

The woman froze, then let the subject drop.

The tow team was set to leave this afternoon and arrive at the campsite by tomorrow morning.

My dad sent the transport driver's number to Ethan, using the excuse that the vehicle was due for scheduled maintenance and needed to go home.

Ethan didn't think twice about it. He even sent me a voice note.

"If your dad needs the RV, he can tow it back. Juliet already found a local rental shop anyway.

"When you get here, we'll switch to the sedan. Pack light this time, and stop overcomplicating things."

He was still planning tomorrow. He still assumed I would be part of it.

That evening, I ate with my parents at a quiet diner in town.

Mom picked the cilantro out of Dad’s soup bowl before ladling a fresh portion for me.

Watching her reminded me of dinner at my house the night before our trip.

Ethan hated cilantro. I had spent ten minutes picking every leaf out of his bowl.

When Juliet sent an updated draft of the itinerary, he dropped his spoon and walked out to the balcony to take her call.

Mom teased me back then, "Eat your own food. Stop fussing over him."

I nodded, but as soon as Ethan came back, I pushed the clean bowl toward him anyway.

Right now at the diner, there was nothing in my bowl that needed picking out, but I held my fork and froze.

Mom didn't push. She just asked if the weather down south was hot and whether I needed a few light summer shirts.

"I'll buy them when I get there," I said.

I kept my head down and drank my soup.

When a tear slipped into the broth, neither of them noticed it.

Before heading to the train station, I mailed the travel journal to Ethan.

Those six stamps belonged to the four years we spent together. I didn't want to tear out the pages, but I wasn't going to carry them to my next chapter either.

When the courier asked what was inside, I wrote, “Old notebook.”

At eleven that night, Maya was waiting in the terminal with her suitcase.

She took one look at my eyes, hastened the tight hug, and refrained from asking questions.

She simply shoved a bag of hot roasted chestnuts into my hands.

"My grandma aired out the guest bed for you," she said softly.

"She asked if you like spicy food. I told her you eat everything."

I peeled a hot chestnut. The steam stung my eyes.

Boarding started, and another text from Ethan popped up.

“Got the rental. Picking you up at seven tomorrow morning.

“Don't be late. Juliet hates waiting for people.”

I didn't bother telling him I was traveling in the exact opposite direction.

As the train pulled away from the station, the platform lights slipped behind us one by one.

I leaned against the glass and watched his final demand flicker on my screen.

“Buy tomatoes on your way over. I kept the beef.”

The wheels clacked over the tracks, and the world outside dissolved into pitch black.

The message remained unread.