Chapter 8

The day Ethan left for New York, I went to the train station to see him off.

The station was busy. He stood in front of the security checkpoint with his rolling suitcase, looking at me.

"Okay. I'm going."

"Text me when you get in."

"I will." He paused. "Take care of yourself. Don't skip meals. Don't stay too late."

"I know."

He stood there another moment, like there was something else he wanted to say. Then he just smiled, turned, and walked through the checkpoint.

I waited outside, watching him go. He looked back and raised a hand.

I raised mine.

Then the crowd swallowed him.

I turned and walked out of the station. The afternoon sunlight was bright enough to make me squint.

My phone buzzed. A message from him.

I forgot to say — you look really beautiful in that bracelet.

I stood in the sunlight, reading that sentence.

I laughed.

And then I was crying.

Not from sadness. Because I suddenly understood what it felt like to be remembered.

I wiped my eyes and typed back: Thank you.

Then I pocketed my phone and headed for the subway.

I thought of what Mom had said a few days ago on the phone.

Nina, do you think you'll want to get married again someday?

I'd said I didn't know.

She'd said: No rush. The good things come later.

The good things come later.

I smiled, just slightly.

Whatever came next — right now, I had a small apartment that was mine, a job that paid my own way, a starfish bracelet on my wrist, and someone who rode a two-hour train every week just to see me.

That was enough.

The subway arrived. I stepped on and found a window seat.

The car moved, and the tunnel air rushed through, cool and clean.

I leaned back and closed my eyes.

Derek's voice came back one more time: Then don't regret this.

I opened my eyes and looked at my reflection in the window.

No regrets.

Not one.

The subway broke into the open air, and the city spilled out around me — new towers, old trees, everything moving past in both directions.

I looked down at the starfish bracelet glinting on my wrist.

Yeah.

This was fine.