Emily walked away from the scene, her steps steady, her heart lighter than it had been in years. She had originally planned to wait until she’d left the city to send Jeremy a final message, cutting ties for good. But after tonight, there was no point in waiting. His heart was already with Miranda.
Standing beneath the streetlights, she took out her phone and typed a simple message:
[Jeremy, it’s over. I won’t be reaching out again. Take care.]
With a final tap, she sent it and blocked his number, exhaling as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders. The thought of breaking up with Jeremy once would have left her feeling lost and devastated. But now? Now it felt like freedom.
When Emily returned to the apartment, Cara was already waiting, sprawled across the couch, her face lighting up as Emily stepped through the door. Without a word, Emily plopped onto the bed and wrapped her friend in a tight hug.
“Cara,” she announced with a grin, “it’s official. As of tonight, I’m single.”
Cara cheered, pulling her into an enthusiastic hug. “Finally! Welcome to the world of happy singles. We’ve got a lot of lost time to make up for.”
***
The next few days were a blur of packing and sorting as Emily prepared to leave the city and everything it held for her. On her last day, she received a message from one of her former professors, asking if she could stop by for a visit. The professor had been a mentor to her and it felt right to say goodbye properly, so she quickly put together a small gift and made her way over.
What Emily didn’t expect was to find Jeremy waiting there, his face darkening when she walked into the cozy living room. The professor greeted her warmly, clearly unaware of the tension in the air.
“Emily, I heard you and Jeremy were having a bit of a rough patch,” her professor said, smiling kindly. “Thought I’d help you two sort things out.”
Emily forced a polite smile, but Jeremy was already glaring, clearly seeing this as something else entirely. Without a word, he grabbed her arm and pulled her outside, his grip tight and unyielding.
“Jeremy,” she protested, wincing as his fingers pressed into her skin. “Let go of me—this is ridiculous!”
He finally released her, but not without a sneer. “So, this is how low you’ve sunk, Emily?” he spat. “Sending some pathetic breakup text and then running to the professor to try to get back in my good graces?”
She was taken aback, her mind spinning. “You think I planned this?” she asked incredulously. “I didn’t even know you’d be here.”
Jeremy’s face twisted with anger. “Of course, you’d say that. One second, you’re begging for a breakup and the next, you’re cozying up to people who can talk me back into giving you another chance. You’re pathetic.”
Emily clenched her fists, steadying herself. The past half-year flashed through her mind, the countless times she’d questioned him, pleading to understand why he was so distant, why he constantly disappeared to see Miranda. Each time, his response had been the same—cold, indifferent and dismissive.
She remembered herself, desperate, crying, pleading with him to stay. “Please, Jeremy, don’t leave me. I’ll be better. I won’t ask questions anymore, I’ll trust you.”
But no more. Emily straightened, her gaze piercing. “You think this is all some game for me? I sent that text because I meant it, Jeremy. I’m done. I don’t know why the professor invited us both today, but if I did, I’d have told them to forget it.”
But her honesty seemed only to fuel his anger further. “Stop pretending, Emily!” he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. “This manipulative, careful act of yours is exactly what I can’t stand.”
The insult fell flat, failing to sting as it once would have. Emily’s voice was calm, almost indifferent. “Fine, Jeremy. I’ll be whatever you need to believe I am—pathetic, desperate, or crazy. Because whatever I am, it’s clear I’m not Miranda.”
Jeremy’s face darkened at the mention of Miranda’s name, his jaw tightening as he spat out, “Leave Miranda out of this. She’s the only one who’s had a good word to say about you.”
Emily couldn’t help a dry laugh. “Then maybe I should give her a ‘best friend’ award for all her charity.”
Jeremy’s expression was a mix of frustration and disbelief, but she didn’t give him a chance to respond. She turned and walked away, leaving him standing alone in the professor’s yard.
***
Back at her apartment, Cara was waiting as Emily walked in, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. “So? How’d it go?”
Emily exhaled, dropping her bag with a relieved sigh. “As expected. Jeremy didn’t believe a word I said. Somehow, in his mind, I’m still the one who’s wrong.”
Cara wrapped an arm around her friend, shaking her head. “Forget him, Em. He’s a coward who can’t handle the truth. You deserve someone who won’t leave you guessing.”
Emily managed a smile, feeling her friend’s support wash over her. “I know. I just can’t believe it took me this long to see it.”
Cara gave her shoulder a squeeze, smiling back. “Well, you see it now. And tomorrow, we’re leaving all this behind. So let’s make tonight count, okay?”
Emily nodded, grateful for the fresh start that awaited her. Tomorrow was the beginning of a new chapter, one where she’d finally be free to be herself. She knew she was done with Jeremy and as she prepared for her new life, she was also ready to reclaim the confidence she’d once had.
