The cab peeled out of the courtyard, taking with it the tattered remains of Blake’s heart.
His jaw clenched so tight he thought his teeth would crack. It took all his willpower not to fall to his knees in front of Farrah and beg her forgiveness. The hug was bad enough—he shouldn’t have done it, but what choice did he have? He couldn’t let her leave Shanghai without…something.
Blake wished he could take back everything that happened since winter break. He wished he could give Farrah promises of future visits and emails and phone calls, of more tangible ways to stay connected beyond shared memories and regrets. He couldn’t, so he gave her the only thing in his power to give: apologies and a last embrace.
Blake ducked his head, plugged in his earphones, and resumed his walk to the gym. The farther he walked from the dorm, the easier it was to tuck the past year’s memories in a safe drawer near his heart. He didn’t have the luxury of dwelling on the past. He had a family and an ex (?)-girlfriend he needed to face in less than 48 hours. He had a baby on the way and a lot of shit he needed to figure out. But the memories would always be there for him to draw upon when he needed them.
The last image—that of Farrah’s face right before she left—slipped inside, and Blake closed the drawer with a firm push.
It broke his heart, but he couldn’t deny it any longer.
This chapter of their lives was over.
