The next morning, Hazel awoke feeling surprisingly lighter, as if a layer of grief had peeled away during the night. Despite her heart still aching in quiet pulses, she no longer felt as paralyzed as before.
She glanced at her phone: 6:00 a.m. The sun had just begun to rise, casting a soft glow across the curtains. After washing her face, she opened the window to let in the cool morning breeze, which lifted strands of her hair and stirred something calm inside her.
Dusting off her old yoga mat, Hazel laid it down on the floor. It had been years, since she last rolled it out.
Ever since she moved in with Dan, she had left behind so many parts of herself. Her hobbies. Her morning rituals. Even her identity, piece by piece.
Dan had never really asked about her past, nor had he shown much interest in her world. And perhaps, in the hope of making their relationship work, she had chosen him, his habit over self.
Hazel let out a soft, self-deprecating laugh.
"How foolish I was… thinking it was our love story," she murmured. Or maybe it had never been one at all! Just a comforting illusion, a blindness she willingly embraced.
Determined not to waste another day wallowing, Hazel spent the day painting with broad, bold strokes, her canvas coming alive with colors that mirrored the storm inside her. In between brushstrokes, she packed her clothes, books, and whatever was truly hers into two modest suitcases.
She didn't bother cooking or cleaning. Instead, she ordered greasy fast food and devoured it on the balcony, not caring for rules or routine anymore.
Around noon, she picked up her phone and dialed Dan's number.
He picked up after the second ring, his voice curt and impersonal.
"I'm busy right now. Say it quickly, what do you want?"
Hazel ignored the coldness in his tone.
"Can we have dinner tonight?" she asked calmly. "I'd like to talk… just the two of us. One last time."
There was a brief pause before Dan replied.
"We'll have to do it tomorrow. I'm taking Aurora to her doctor's appointment today. She sprained her ankle last night. Don't be mad, okay?"
His words came fast.
Hazel's fingers tightened slightly around the phone...
"I'll wait for you."
Before Dan could reply, she ended the call.
---
At Marcer Group Headquarters – CEO Office:
In the sleek, glass-walled office, Dan sat behind his desk, browsing his schedule when Shen, his assistant, entered hesitantly.
"Boss, Madam asked you for dinner tonight. Are you really not going?" Shen asked, scratching his head, clearly uncomfortable.
Dan didn't look up.
"She hurt Aurora yesterday. If she hadn't, maybe I'd consider it. Let her wait. It'll make her reflect on her behavior."
Shen looked uneasy.
"But sir… what if she gets really upset this time?"
Dan leaned back in his chair.
"Then so be it. And stop calling her 'Madam.' That title just fuels her arrogance. She needs to learn her place."
"…Understood, Boss," Shen murmured, though his expression betrayed a flicker of doubt.
---
Back at the Apartment-
As evening fell, Hazel busied herself in the kitchen. Despite everything, she put care into every dish, recreating Dan's favorite meals from memory. The aroma of spices and simmering sauces filled the apartment, blending strangely with the scent of closure.
The table was set perfectly. Candles lit, cutlery arranged, the apartment spotless. She wanted this to be a peaceful farewell. A quiet, dignified ending to a story that had meant everything to her.
She checked the clock: 9:45 p.m. No sign of Dan.
By 10:00 p.m., the food sat untouched. Still hopeful, Hazel called him. The phone rang. No answer. She tried again. But no one picked the phone.
Swallowing her disappointment, she dialed another number. Shen picked up almost immediately.
"Hello… Miss Hazel," he greeted awkwardly.
Hazel blinked. "Miss?" Shen had always addressed her as Madam.
Hearing her confusion, Shen stammered slightly.
"Actually, Boss instructed us to call you 'Miss' from now on…" There was an awkward pause before he added, "Maybe… it's just a misunderstanding? I mean, maybe if you two talk-"
Hazel closed her eyes briefly, "I didn't call for that. Just tell me, where is your boss?"
There was another pause before Shen answered.
"After the doctor's appointment, Miss Aurora wanted to watch a movie… so I believe he might've taken her."
Hazel held the phone to her ear for a moment, "I see. Thank you."
She ended the call.
Letting out a long breath, she stared at the food she had prepared with such care.
"I guess the goodbye dinner isn't needed anymore," she murmured.
One by one, she packed the dishes into disposable containers. If it wouldn't feed the man who once meant the world to her, at least it could feed someone who truly needed it.
Later that night, Hazel stepped outside and gave the containers to a few homeless people near the subway station. Their grateful smiles made the meal feel worth it.
An hour later, she returned to the apartment for the last time. The rooms were quiet and dim, familiar but too unfamiliar to feel like home.
She entered the living room, stood silently for a brief moment before she pulled out the engagement ring from her finger. And placed it on the table, beside a handwritten note.
She looked around one last time.
"This is it," she whispered. "The end of my journey here. I won't look back."
Without hesitation, she rolled her luggage out the door, her heels echoing softly against the floor. A cab was already waiting downstairs, just as she had arranged.
Hazel didn't cry. She had done enough of that already. She wasn't running away. She was walking toward herself.
---