𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐁𝐄 𝐌𝐘 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒, 𝐉.𝐇.𝐊

xi.

APRX. 1 MONTH LATER

Dear y/n,

Congratulations! You've been accepted for the position at New York Journal! After reading your heartbreakingly good debut novel, and your impressive application, we have decided to hire you.  If there is any reason you shall not be able to join us here at New York Journal, please reply to this email to decline. If you wish to accept please respond to this email. 

NEW YORK JOURNAL

I reread the email over, and over and over, staring in awe at my acceptance. This job was the gateway to become the journalist I always wanted to become.  I should been more excited about this opportunity, but instead I felt guilty.

Accepting this job would mean that I would have to move back to New York City. Leave behind Aunt Jane's house, that she had left to me. I would have to leave Rye, the town I had grown to love. I sat in my chair with my head in my hands, thinking what Jane would want. 

Would she want me to stay in the town that she had loved so much, she left her whole family for it, or would she want me to become a journalist like I had always dreamed. The answer was obvious. 

"When you grow up to become the famous writer you want to be, don't let anything get in the way of your passion. I can see it in you that you are one of a few people in the world who are wiling to follow their dream, no matter the costs. You must stick to that."   I heard her voice in my head. She had told me that the last time I saw her. So I decided to stick to what she wanted. But there was one thing I couldn't leave behind. 

Jonah. 

I had to convince him to come with me, somehow. He had always said that he wanted to get out of this town, so maybe he would come with me to New York. 

...

Jonah texted me earlier, asking if we could have a fancy dinner. He always liked cooking, but he said he wanted to cook something extra special today. I gladly accepted as I would never decline an opportunity for his food. This would also be the perfect opportunity to talk to him about moving. He told me he was almost at the end of his shift, and he would be home soon. 

I waiting anxiously at the kitchen table, bobbing my leg and trying to word what I was going to ask him to do for me. Time seemed to pass slower than usual, the ticking of the clock in the living room growing louder each second. I heard the lock click on the front door and immediately straightened out. 

Jonah walked in with grocery bags on each hand and placed them on the kitchen counter. I stood up from my seat and threw myself into a hug without saying a word. He held me tightly and gave me a kiss, a smile on his face.  

"How are you?" He checked in. 

"I'm really great actually." A giggle escaping from my sealed lips. The excitement about the job shone through the nervousness like sun trying to break through on a cloudy day.

"Do tell." He took the groceries out of the bags one by one, placing them on the counter. 

"I'll tell you over dinner." 

"Good, I have something to tell you too. " He smiled as he pulled up the recipe he was cooking on his phone: Steak Au Poivre with Red Wine Pan Sauce I read off the screen. I gave him a kiss on the cheek and headed upstairs while he cooked. 

...

He called me to let me know dinner was served. I took a deep breath and headed down the stairs. As I entered the smell of the chef's masterpiece, I looked around.