𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑋𝑜𝑛𝑒

𝐿𝐼𝑉

"What are you doing here?" she asked, narrowing her eyes as she looked at me. Her amused smile made me relax my tense shoulders, but the familiar pang of guilt twisted in my chest. I hadn't expected to run into her like this, after everything that had happened between us, I wasn't sure how to feel or what to expect from this encounter. Still, the way she smiled eased some of the weight I'd been carrying around.

It was my fault things had ended the way they did, and I had no idea if she still held any anger toward me or if she had forgiven me. Her subtle smile gave me the impression that whatever animosity had once existed between us had started to fade. Maybe she wasn't as upset as I thought. Still, the uncertainty lingered as I looked at her, wondering how to bridge the gap between us after so much time.

"Don't worry about it," I laughed lightly, trying to mask the nerves that were still creeping up on me. "So you're still here? How's Angie treating you?"

Her smile widened as she leaned on her hip, clearly at ease. "Good," she said, a relaxed tone in her voice that made me feel less anxious. "Great, actually. I'm thinking about becoming my own radio show host now. Angie's going to give me my own little segment on air, which I've been preparing for."

My eyes lit up with genuine excitement for her. "Oh, that's amazing! You're going to do great, Emily."

"Thanks," she grinned, her confidence shining through. "I've been working on some ideas, and I'm really excited about it."

I nodded, happy for her, but also feeling the bittersweet realization that we had both moved on in our own ways. "So, how's modeling?" she asked, her voice softening as she looked me over, like she was waiting for me to explain the changes in my life.

"I'm a Victoria's Secret model now," I said, a smile tugging at my lips as I spoke. The pride I felt in the accomplishment warmed me, but it also made me realize how much had changed since we'd last seen each other.

"Ohhhh, I thought that was you on the wall when I went to the mall the other day," Emily said, her eyes brightening with recognition. "You're everywhere."

"Yeah, I've been doing some photo shoots, so you'll definitely see more of me," I replied, my confidence growing as I spoke. It felt good to be recognized, to feel proud of the work I was doing. But the feeling was still tempered with a strange sense of nostalgia for the time I'd shared with Emily.

"Well, it was really nice seeing you, Emily," I said, trying to keep the conversation light, not wanting to overthink the situation.

"It was nice seeing you too, Mariah," she replied with warmth, and for a moment, there was no tension between us, just two people who had shared a piece of their lives together, even if those days were behind us now. She gave me one last glance, her eyes lingering for just a moment before she turned and walked away, her figure disappearing down the hall.

I stood there for a moment, the brief encounter leaving me with a mix of emotions. It wasn't the closure I thought I might need, but it was enough to remind me how far I'd come. And as I turned to head back to Janet, I couldn't help but feel that maybe, just maybe, we were both finally moving forward.

The encounter with Emily left me feeling lighter, like I had just taken a step toward closure. I had made peace with the decision, even if I hadn't gone about it in the best way. It was reassuring to see that she was happy and doing well. I didn't feel the weight of guilt that had been hanging over me anymore. I had made the right choice, both for myself and for her.

As I walked back toward the interview room, I couldn't help but smile. I had just looked my happiness in the eyes, and it felt good. No more regrets. I had let go, and now I was moving forward.