The plane touched down at Logan International Airport with a gentle thud. Elena blinked awake, her neck stiff from the long flight. Beside her, Eddie was already unbuckling his seatbelt, eager to start their new life in Boston.
"We're here," he said, flashing her a smile.
Elena nodded, trying to muster up some enthusiasm. But all she felt was a gnawing anxiety in the pit of her stomach.
They collected their bags and hailed a taxi. As they drove through the unfamiliar streets, Elena pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the window. The city looked so different from London. Bigger. Louder. Lonelier.
Their new apartment was in a sleek high-rise near the Charles River. Eddie had insisted on the best, of course. As they stepped inside, Elena had to admit it was beautiful. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered a stunning view of the city skyline.
"What do you think?" Eddie asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
Elena leaned back into him, seeking comfort. "It's lovely," she said softly.
But as she looked out at the unfamiliar skyline, all she could think about was what – and who – she'd left behind in London.
The next few days were a whirlwind of unpacking and settling in. Eddie threw himself into preparing for his business classes. Elena tried to focus on her upcoming literature courses, but her heart wasn't in it.
One evening, as they sat on their new couch eating takeout Chinese food, Eddie's phone buzzed. He glanced at it and grinned.
"The guys want to go out for drinks," he said. "You don't mind if I go, do you? You can use the time to set up your study space or whatever."
Elena felt a flicker of annoyance. Of course, Eddie already had a social circle here. She forced a smile. "Sure, go ahead. Have fun."
After Eddie left, Elena wandered the apartment restlessly. She ended up in front of her laptop, staring at a blank document. She was supposed to be working on her blog, but the words wouldn't come.
Without thinking, she opened her email. There, sitting in her inbox, was a message from Alfie. Her heart skipped a beat.
"How's Boston? I hope you're settling in well. I miss our talks."
Elena's fingers hovered over the keyboard. She shouldn't reply. She knew that. But the loneliness of the empty apartment pressed in on her.
"It's different," she typed. "The city is beautiful, but..."
She hesitated, then continued.
"I miss London. I miss you."
Her finger hovered over the send button. She shouldn't. She really shouldn't.
She hit send.
Alfie's reply came almost immediately. "I miss you too. More than you know."
They exchanged a few more messages, each one making Elena's heart race faster. It felt so good to talk to someone who really understood her.
Finally, Alfie wrote, "Can I call you?"
Elena glanced at the clock. It was late in London. Eddie wouldn't be back for hours.
"Okay," she replied.
Her phone rang seconds later. She answered with shaky hands.
"Elena," Alfie's voice was warm, familiar. "God, it's good to hear your voice."
Elena felt tears prick her eyes. "Alfie," she whispered. "I don't know if I can do this."
"Do what?" he asked gently.
"Any of it," she admitted. "Boston. The engagement. My classes. I feel so lost."
Alfie was quiet for a moment. "You're stronger than you think, Elena. But you need to be true to yourself. What do you really want?"
Elena closed her eyes. What did she want? The safe, comfortable life with Eddie? Or something else? Something more.
"I don't know," she said honestly.
They talked for over an hour. About her doubts, her fears, her dreams. Alfie listened, really listened, in a way Eddie never had.
When they finally hung up, Elena felt both better and worse. Better because she'd finally voiced her feelings. Worse because she knew, deep down, that her heart was pulling her in a direction she shouldn't go.
The next morning, Elena woke to find Eddie already gone. A note on the fridge said he'd gone to campus early to meet some classmates.
Elena sighed. She made herself a cup of coffee and sat by the window, watching the city come to life. Her phone buzzed with a text from Sophie.
"How's Boston? Living the dream yet?"
Elena stared at the message. Was this the dream? Or was she just going through the motions?
She started typing a response, then stopped. How could she explain to Sophie that she was struggling when everything looked perfect on the outside?
Instead, she opened her laptop and pulled up her blog. She hadn't posted in weeks. Her followers were probably wondering where she'd gone.
She began to type, pouring out her feelings about the move, about starting a new chapter in life. She was careful not to mention her doubts or Alfie, but the post was raw and honest in a way her content had never been before.
As she hit publish, Elena felt a weight lift from her shoulders. This was why she'd started blogging in the first place. To connect. To express herself.
Her phone buzzed again. This time, it was Mr. Blackwood from Lumière Cosmetics.
"Saw your latest post. Powerful stuff. Let's set up a video call to discuss next steps for our collaboration."
Elena smiled, feeling a spark of excitement for the first time since arriving in Boston. This was something that was hers. Something Eddie couldn't dismiss as just a hobby.
As she replied to Mr. Blackwood, setting up a time for their call, Elena felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe she could make this work. Maybe she could find a way to be true to herself and still make everyone else happy.
But even as she thought it, she knew it wasn't that simple. The road ahead was complicated, filled with tough choices and potential heartbreak.
Elena glanced at the framed photo of her and Eddie on the bookshelf. They looked so happy, so in love. But was that enough?
She turned back to her laptop, losing herself in work. For now, at least, she could pretend everything was fine. But deep down, she knew the cracks in her perfect life were only growing wider.
As the sun climbed higher in the Boston sky, Elena wondered how long she could keep up this charade. And more importantly, did she even want to?