Bini: In Parallel Universe

LXI: So Long, London

Colet squinted through the rain-streaked window of the corner cafe, the fairy lights strung across the street blurring into an impressionistic mess. A year ago, they'd twinkled with promise, a symbol of the new life she was building with Jhoanna in London. Now, they mirrored the ache in Colet's chest.

Jhoanna had always been London. Energetic, unpredictable, a whirlwind that had swept Colet off her feet. Colet, the California transplant, had been captivated. They'd explored hidden pubs, laughed in hushed tones at Shakespeare's Globe, and picnicked in Hampstead Heath, the weight of the world seemingly lifted from Colet's shoulders.

But cracks had begun to appear, subtle at first. Jhoanna, once a source of constant amusement, became distant, her smile strained. Colet, ever the optimist, had tried. She'd shouldered more of the emotional weight, the unspoken anxieties, hoping to bridge the growing chasm. It was like trying to fill a bottomless pit.

The song on the cafe's speakers shifted, a melancholic piano melody replacing the upbeat pop. Colet flinched, the lyrics hitting a raw nerve. "I kept calm and carried the weight of the rift," it crooned. How perfectly it described the past few months. Colet had been Atlas, the world on her back, while Jhoanna drifted further away.

Memories flickered – stolen kisses under the London Eye, whispered promises by the River Thames. A lump formed in Colet's throat. The final straw had been Jhoanna's silent withdrawal after a fight about their future. Colet craved roots, a sense of belonging, things Jhoanna seemed allergic to.

Taking a deep breath, Colet reached for her phone. The screen displayed a picture of them at Buckingham Palace, Jhoanna's smile genuine, her eyes sparkling. Tears welled up, blurring the image. With trembling fingers, Colet typed a message: "So long, London. So long, us." It felt final, a weight lifting from her chest even as the tears spilled over.

The cafe door chimed, and Jhoanna walked in, a hesitant smile on her face. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. But Colet knew the moment had passed. With a weak smile, Colet shook her head, the unspoken words hanging heavy in the air.

Jhoanna's smile faltered, replaced by a dawning understanding. As the rain lashed against the window, Colet slipped out into the storm, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek. The fairy lights blurred into a kaleidoscope of colors, a bittersweet farewell to a love story that had ended in the city where it began.