I think when I decided to break up with him, I did so assuming it was temporary. Some part of me deep down truly believed we belonged together. I’d never openly admitted to believing in destiny or soul ties or whatever but when it came to him and I… well, I guess I did believe in that sort of thing.

It was stupid, how I ended things. _Why_ I ended things. I just wanted him to miss me. Absence always makes the heart grow fonder, and for weeks I’d been feeling like I was begging for his attention. Begging for him to look at me how he used to.

I never expected the break up to last. But on a Thursday evening, as I sought shelter from the rain in a little cafe in Brooklyn, I saw him walk by hand in hand with another woman. It had only been a week since we’d ended things, and I’d been waiting for his call. Expecting it to come any day, any moment, to the point that I’d refuse to set my cell phone down to work or go to the bathroom.

I watched as they made a beeline for the cafe’s door, shoving shut their umbrellas and shaking off the rain. I remained frozen as they stumbled happily to the counter to order. He swung an arm around her shoulders and she leaned in; the motion was just as familar to me as it appeared to be to her. She was beautiful - much younger than myself - with long, shiny dark hair and a tall, slender build. I couldn’t stop staring. I’d taken a gamble and I’d lost. _Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. _