Chapter 4

Back in her own apartment, Ava swallowed the medication and crawled into bed.

The fever raged, but the chill in her heart was colder.

She scrolled through Instagram, a mindless habit.

Then she saw it.

Ethan' s private account. The one he said was just for "close friends."

She still followed him there. He' d forgotten.

A new post.

A picture of him and Chloe, years ago, laughing, a bonfire blazing behind them.

The caption: "Some flames never die. #TBT #GoodTimes #Always"

Ava stared at the photo, at the words.

Some flames never die.

Her flame, apparently, had never even been properly lit in his eyes.

A bitter laugh escaped her.

She tapped on his profile.

Hit "Unfollow."

A small, decisive click.

A wave of something like relief washed over her.

It was done.

She wouldn't look back.

The next morning, her fever had broken slightly, but her resolve was ironclad.

She called her boss.

"Mark, I need to put in my notice."

"Ava? Is everything okay? This is sudden."

"I'm moving," she said, the words tasting of freedom. "I need a change."

She didn't elaborate. She didn't owe anyone an explanation.

Her life in New York, the life she' d built around Ethan, was dissolving.

And it felt surprisingly good.