There were no flowers, no guests, no ceremony, just coffee and silence. I didn't spend the day feeling sorry for myself. I went to work. Then, I met Ryan for dinner. He didn't ask me how I was doing.
He already knew. Instead, he said, "You need something to do. " "I have work. " "You need something outside work. " "What did you have in mind? " He smiled. "Come hiking with me tomorrow. " I almost laughed. "I haven't gone hiking in years. " "Exactly. " So, I went. The next weekend, I went again.
Then, I started going on my own. I changed my routine. I started spending more time with friends. I repaired things around the apartment that I had ignored for years. I even started cooking again.
Slowly, the place stopped feeling like the apartment Ashley had left. It became mine. 3 months after she moved out, I heard from her for the first time. It was a short email. She said she hoped I was doing okay.
I didn't respond. 2 weeks later, another one arrived. This time she said things were complicated with Malcolm. I closed the email. I didn't need details.
A month later, Ryan mentioned that he had heard from one of Ashley's friends. "They broke up," he said. I kept eating. "When? " "Apparently, a few weeks ago. " I shrugged. "Okay. " Ryan looked at me.
"You don't want to know what happened? " "No. " That was the truth. Whatever happened between Ashley and Malcolm was no longer my business. She had made her choice. She had to live with it. By the time winter arrived, I had stopped checking my phone whenever it buzzed.
I had stopped wondering if Ashley would contact me. I stopped thinking about Jamaica. Then, one afternoon, I ran into someone I hadn't seen in years. Her name was Claire Donovan. She had worked with Ryan at his old company, and we'd met several times before.
We started talking over coffee. Nothing serious happened. There was no sudden romance, no dramatic replacement for Ashley. We simply enjoyed being around each other. A few months later, we started dating.
Claire knew what had happened. I didn't hide it. But, I also didn't make Ashley the center of every conversation. That was something I had learned. My life couldn't stay organized around what another person had done to me.
By the time summer came around, I barely recognized the man who had stood in the apartment watching Ashley drive away. I was sleeping better, working harder, seeing friends, dating someone I actually trusted. I wasn't trying to prove anything to Ashley. I wasn't waiting for her to regret leaving. I had simply moved forward.
Then, almost exactly 1 year after Ashley had walked out of our apartment, my phone rang. I looked at the screen. Her name was there. I almost ignored it. Then I answered.
Hello? She was quiet for a moment. Jack? Yeah. I know I shouldn't be calling.
You're right. She took a breath. I need to talk to you. About what? About us.
There is no us. I know. Her voice cracked. But I need to see you. I looked across the room at Claire, who was reading on the couch.
She looked up. I turned away. When? Whenever you're willing. I thought about it.