Chapter 2

Without Nicole in our lives, things would only get better for both of us.

It was already 2:00 pm when I walked out of the train station.

I'd broken up with Nicole over text an hour earlier.

Five hours had passed since she'd promised to come with me to see Mom off.

I was just about to hail a cab when Nicole called.

"I just got back from the vet and saw your breakup text. What are you upset about this time?" she asked.

This time.

In Nicole's mind, I was always the one making a big deal out of nothing.

Then again, that was how things had gone for years.

I would stand there with red-rimmed eyes, waiting for some kind of explanation, only to be met with her indifference until I finally swallowed my hurt and gave in.

Now, I shook my head and said nothing.

"Michael Quinn, are you just not going to answer me now?" Nicole demanded, her tone laced with fury. "Where are you? What are you doing?"

"The train station," I said.

Nicole went quiet.

It seemed she had finally remembered that she'd promised me three separate times today that she would see Mom before she left.

"You... Tell Mrs. Quinn to wait for me. I'm on my way."

She hung up before I could respond.

Later, as I stood there watching the train carrying Mom disappear down the tracks, Nicole called again.

"Michael, Kevin's dog is throwing up again. I need to get over there. Tell Mrs. Quinn I'm sorry. I'll go home with you next time and pay her a visit. I'll apologize to her in person then. I promise."

I hummed in acknowledgment.

Strangely enough, I wasn't disappointed.

For the past six months, "next time" had become Nicole's favorite phrase.

Next time, she wouldn't miss our date.

Next time, she'd remember our anniversary.

Even when I asked her to meet my family, the answer was always the same.

"I'll make it next time."

She knew I'd always forgiven her before. That was why hurting me had become so easy for her.

But there wouldn't be a next time anymore.

I was done with her, and I was going home.

Leaving was much easier than I'd imagined. I ended my lease, packed my belongings, and resigned from my job, all in a single afternoon.

And throughout the entire ordeal, Nicole never showed up.

That night, my department threw me a farewell party.

Lily Adams, the youngest intern there, hadn't even had a drink before her eyes turned red. "Michael, you better keep in touch after you leave. I'm really going to miss you."

Even the coworker who had always been my biggest rival handed me a flash drive. "I've been collecting industry resources on my own for a while. Take them. They might come in handy."

Then, my boss, whom we all jokingly called our corporate overlord, quietly handed me a bank card.

She knew about Mom's condition, and her voice was unusually subdued.

"There's 500,000 dollars on here. Everyone pitched in. Make sure Mrs. Quinn gets the best treatment you can find."

I managed a quiet hum in acknowledgment, then stood and raised my glass.

The tears came before I could stop them, dripping straight into my drink.

All I could think about were the 20 days Nicole had failed to show up.

Nicole and I had been together for five years.

Mom's hospital room was on the 13th floor, while Nicole worked on the 17th.

All it took was ten seconds in an elevator, or two minutes on the stairs. Yet, somehow, 20 days hadn't been enough for Nicole to make that trip.

I'd only worked at my company for two years, and most of my coworkers and I weren't even particularly close.

Still, the moment they found out I was quitting to go home and take care of Mom, they pooled together 500,000 dollars for her treatment.

Meanwhile, Nicole hadn't even bought Mom a ten-dollar towel.

My eyes stung again, but then I thought about the train ticket I'd already bought.

Any lingering doubt I had about leaving disappeared.

After a few rounds of drinks, I got up to pay the bill when Lily suddenly tugged on my sleeve.

"Michael, look over there. Isn't that Dr. Davis?"

I followed her gaze, and sure enough, it was Nicole.

She was wearing a long purple dress, and beside her stood Kevin Shaw with a puppy in his arms. Nicole reached up and gently fixed his hair.