Chapter 7 - THE APARTMENT WITH NO WEDDING PICTURES
Ethan returned to the apartment he'd shared with Clare.
It was almost empty.
Not physically.
The furniture remained.
The bookshelves.
The kitchen table.
The framed photographs.
But Clare's belongings were gone.
Her favorite coffee mug.
The blue blanket she'd kept on the couch.
The small ceramic bowl where she left her keys.
Even the little plant she'd insisted would survive in the kitchen window.
Ethan stood in the doorway.
For years, he'd assumed Clare would always be there.
Waiting.
Forgiving.
Adjusting.
Now the apartment felt unfamiliar.
He walked into the bedroom.
Her side of the closet was empty.
On the dresser sat a small box.
Inside were photographs from their engagement.
And a note.
You can keep the memories.
I don't want to keep living inside them.
Ethan sat on the bed.
May you like
For the first time, he understood that Clare hadn't left to punish him.
She had left because she no longer believed he would change.
