Michaella, a gifted writer, finds herself haunted by the memories of a love that slipped through her fingers. As she pens down her heartache and cherished moments with Gabrielle, an architect whose charm and warmth once made her world brighter, she...
The morning sunlight filtered through the windows as I walked into the studio, my mind still heavy with the decision I had made. London. It felt surreal—almost like a dream—but at the same time, the weight of it was starting to settle. I couldn't help but feel a sense of finality, as if closing one chapter of my life while stepping into the unknown. My heart felt torn in so many directions, and I knew the announcement today wouldn't be easy.
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As I walked down the familiar hallway, the sound of casual chatter and the hum of studio life echoed around me. I passed by the meeting room where the team was already gathering. Anna was there, organizing papers, and Alex and Ethan were standing by the window, deep in conversation. My stomach twisted seeing them together—both of them unaware of the bombshell I was about to drop.
I pushed the door open and entered the room, a small smile on my face, though it felt forced. Everyone turned to me, and I greeted them as usual. But today was different, and they all sensed it.
"Alright, team," Anna stated, taking a seat at the head of the table. "We've got a lot to discuss today. First things first: RaiseUp season two. We've been getting some incredible feedback, and I think we should seriously consider a second season."
There were nods all around, and Ethan shot me an encouraging smile. But my heart pounded in my chest. They were excited, full of ideas, but I was about to stop it all in its tracks.
I took a deep breath and cleared my throat. "Before we get too far into this, I need to say something." My voice wavered slightly, and I tried to steady it. "I've made a decision. I've been offered a new opportunity, and I've decided to take it. I'm moving to London."
The room fell into stunned silence. You could hear a pin drop. Anna's hand froze mid-turn of a page, Alex's expression shifted from surprise to something unreadable, and Ethan's smile disappeared.
Anna was the first to speak. "London? That's... wow. That's incredible, Michaella. But... what does this mean for us? For RaiseUp?"
"I'm not saying the podcast is over forever," I began, trying to explain. "But right now, with everything happening, I need to step back. London is a big move, and I have the chance to work on my next book. It's something I can't pass up. This is my path right now."
Ethan leaned forward, his face a mixture of confusion and hurt. "When were you going to tell us this?"
"I'm sorry I didn't say anything sooner," I replied, feeling the guilt wash over me. "It's been a tough decision. But I wanted to tell you all before anything became official."
Alex stayed quiet, his eyes fixed on the table in front of him. I could feel the tension radiating off him. He wasn't saying a word, but I knew he was processing everything, especially after everything that had happened between us.
"We're happy for you, of course," Anna finally said, her voice more subdued. "But we're going to miss you, Michaella. You're the heart of this show."
"I'm going to miss all of you too," I said, my voice cracking slightly. "This isn't goodbye forever, just... for now."
The meeting ended on that heavy note, and everyone slowly dispersed, leaving me feeling like I had just ripped a part of my life away. I retreated to my office, needing a moment alone to gather my thoughts. Sitting at my desk, I stared at the computer screen, trying to focus on some emails, but my mind kept wandering back to the looks on their faces.
I didn't hear the door open, but I felt their presence before I saw them. Alex and Ethan entered the room, closing the door behind them. My heart sank. I knew this was coming.
"London?" Ethan said, his voice thick with frustration. "Just like that, you're leaving?"
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "It's not just like that, Ethan. This wasn't an easy decision. I've been thinking about it for a long time."
"Clearly not long enough to talk to us about it," Alex finally spoke, his voice sharp. "You kept us in the dark."
I winced at the accusation. "I didn't mean to. I just... I didn't know how to say it."
Ethan shook his head, his eyes full of hurt. "You knew we both had feelings for you. And now you're just leaving. Do you realize what that feels like?"
"I didn't ask for any of this!" I snapped, the emotions bubbling up inside me. "I never wanted to hurt either of you. But I can't stay here for the wrong reasons. I have to do this for me. This isn't about you or anyone else. It's about my life."
Alex stepped closer, his jaw tight. "And what about us? Are we just supposed to pretend this didn't happen? That we didn't care?"
I stood up from my desk, meeting his gaze. "I appreciate you both, more than you know. But I'm not ready for anything—whether it's with you, Alex, or you, Ethan. This is about me, and I can't enter into something I'm not ready for."
Ethan crossed his arms, his face hardening. "So, what now? We just forget everything?"
"No," I said softly. "We stay friends. We keep what we had, but we don't complicate it. You both mean so much to me, but I'm not ready for a relationship. And it has nothing to do with my past relationship with Gabrielle. It's about me."
Alex's eyes softened slightly, though the tension still hung in the air. "I hear what you're saying, Michaella," he murmured, his voice lower now. "But I'm not giving up on you. When you come back, if there's no one in your life, and if you're ready, I'm going to ask you out."
My heart clenched at his words, but I managed a small smile. "Alex..."
He held up his hand. "No, don't say anything now. Just know I'm serious. I care about you, and I'm not giving up that easily."
I watched as he turned and left the office, leaving Ethan standing there, looking torn. After a moment, Ethan followed, but not before throwing one last glance my way.
As the door clicked shut, I sat down heavily in my chair, staring at the empty space they left behind. I had always known this was going to be difficult, but I hadn't expected it to hurt this much.
