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Chapter 10
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After the Rain, Never See You Again Chapter 10
The new city was drier.It took me half a year to adjust.After the divorce, I threw myself into my career.I finally built the first breakout hit of my career.It was a social app centered on niche interests and communities.Its success earned me another promotion.I also bought a small apartment of my own.I decorated every corner of the place myself.When I walked into my own home, that old feeling was finally gone: the need to take a deep breath before opening the door, to remind myself not to be afraid.I shared that anonymously on the social app I'd built.It wasn't universally relatable, apparently. Only one person replied.Do you hate that person?I wrote that hate took too much energy, and I had none to spare.The stranger asked another question.Are you happy now?I wrote back.I'm at peace.I closed the app and saw a message from Kayla.She asked whether I'd go back to the town for Christmas, and whether we could get together if I had time.I said I wasn't going back.At fir
After the Rain, Never See You Again Chapter 9
Before we listed the bayside apartment we'd bought together, Noah asked me to come see whether I wanted anything left inside.I didn't go.I told him to throw my things away or donate them.The apartment sale closed on the same day the family court's waiting period ended.The deed transfer and final divorce decree became official that day."Leah, I'm sorry."Noah spoke behind me.I turned and gave him a wave."Making someone you love happy should feel good.""You don't have to keep pretending she annoys you."With that, I got into the car I'd called.His message came after.He said he had wanted to do most of those things for Kayla.He apologized for the false front he'd put on around me.He apologized for doing so much for Kayla while claiming it was all for my sake.Reading it, I felt nothing but calm.I replied.You're free. I hope you'll be happy.Kayla asked to meet several times, and I refused every invitation.At last she sent a blunt question.Did you two really get divorced?I
After the Rain, Never See You Again Chapter 8
After I left, Noah messaged me.You stay in the house for now. I'll move out tonight.I replied.Sell it. We'll split the proceeds according to what each of us contributed.There was no reply from his end.That evening, Kayla asked me to dinner.She sat in the restaurant with the same expression, as if none of this could possibly be serious."Every interaction I had with Noah was because he was your husband.""You don't need to end your marriage over this.""Noah is avoiding me now so nobody gets the wrong idea. He asked me to talk to you today, but otherwise he won't even answer my messages."I looked at her."You want us to reconcile because then you can keep everything he does for you without paying the price, don't you?"Kayla froze mid-pour and turned to stare at me."That's really how you see me?""Fine, get another husband. Are you really throwing away more than a decade of friendship too?"I held her gaze and enunciated every word."It's precisely because it's you.""You were t
After the Rain, Never See You Again Chapter 7
The month of leave passed quickly.I'd thought the divorce agreement would be signed soon.But Noah sent me snippets of daily life every day and never once mentioned signing.On my first day back at work, there was a bunch of sunflowers on my desk.Beside them sat a half-sweet latte, extra hot.His text arrived moments later.I missed your promotion dinner. I hope the flowers and coffee make up for it.Can we talk at lunch?I chose the new cafe on the ground floor of our office building.I waited for him at the table farthest from the door.He wore the linen blazer I'd bought him, noticeably thinner now."I'm sorry."That was how he began."Not only for choosing Kayla first that day."I listened in silence."I'm sorry because I saw both of you fall.""And I still ran to Kayla first."He was finally willing to admit it."Is that all?" I asked."What about everything else you did for her? Are you still going to pretend none of it meant anything?"He shook his head."I don't know what you
After the Rain, Never See You Again Chapter 6
The quiet small-town life lasted a week.That quiet life lasted a week, until one evening I went for a walk by the ocean and found Noah waiting at the entrance to the neighborhood.He stood under a streetlight, dark stubble along his jaw and his coat badly wrinkled."Leah."I took him to a secluded bench in a nearby park."Did you sign the divorce agreement?"Noah looked baffled."Is this about the day you and Kayla fell, when I only thought about getting her to the hospital?""I'm sorry. What I did that day was inexcusable. But..."I cut him off."That day wasn't the cause. It was the last straw."Noah didn't want to hear it."That was one accident. I'm not like that.""Hasn't our marriage always been a happy one?"I looked at him."Thank you for the happiness you gave me over the last five years.""But both people in a marriage deserve to be happy.""Leah, I am happy. Life with you is easy."I closed my eyes for a moment, then met his unreadable gaze again."Am I the reason you're ha
After the Rain, Never See You Again Chapter 5
After a flight and a long bus ride, I finally reached a small coastal town in Maine.Cold, damp wind slipped down my collar.My cousin Emma was waiting at the station."Leah, what brought you back all of a sudden?"In the past, I always came back with Kayla.Eventually Noah started joining us.Emma glanced around."Is Kayla seeing someone? You two always used to come back together."I thought about it for a moment and nodded."Wow, she's so picky. What's her boyfriend like?"Head bowed, I followed the town's cobblestone streets."Her boyfriend's wonderful.""He acts like she's a nuisance, but he remembers everything she likes to eat. He drives out of his way for her, stays up late helping with her presentations, and slowly turns his home into the place she wants it to be.""Wow..."Emma wanted to ask more, but I cut her off."We're almost home. Is Aunt Mae there?"Aunt Mae's house stood just around the corner.She had prepared a huge spread of all my favorites.It had been a long time
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