A routine could be a blessing but also a curse. Lacey found herself at the height of a constant work rotation. She taught ballroom dance in the morning and worked as a bartender at night. Her world appeared so structured and small. Despite all the rigidness in her schedule, she made time for her evening chat with Brooke. The thirty minutes of the day she looked forward to the most. The conversation allowed for a space for them to wind down from the hustled pace and connect. In the last six months they spent together, this became habitual. The consistency served as a reminder of how much they loved and cared for one another regardless of their individual lives.

The remainder of the winter continued to put up a fight with blustery weather. The cold snap tonight seemed exceptional. A shiver went down her spine as she experienced the temperature change when she stepped out of the bar to go home. Lacey reached for her iPhone to dial her lover. She started the brisk walk toward her condo to keep the frigidness from freezing her body. She listened to the rings, waiting for the beauty’s voice on the other end of the phone. But, the usual cheeriness from her significant other wasn’t the greeting presented. Instead, Brooked answered with an unusual hoarse tone. Without much effort, Lacey noticed Brooke was crying.

“Hi, baby. What’s going on?” she asked, sounding as casual as possible. Panic began to build in her chest from the altered inflection. Only one day passed since they last spoke. What could have gone wrong?

“I…” Brooke trailed off before a sob hit her like a lightning bolt. Brooke’s loud sob stopped her in her tracks. The petite blonde stood on the city street and paused before speaking. She knew if she acted erratically, she would go without answers.

She said in the calmest tone possible, “Okay, let’s take a deep breath.” Modeling the behavior, she took one herself and listened for Brooke to do the same. Once she did, Lacey inquired again about the obvious emotional circumstances. From the moment the call began, she realized something wasn’t right. Lacey stopped off to the side of the usual foot traffic to continue the conversation.

“I kissed Reuben,” Brooke blurted out. Reuben claimed to be a friend to both of them. He was another bartender who worked with them at night. Also, an aspiring singer, he used the bar as a steady income while living in a big city. But his messy history with Brooke kept getting in the way. Much like Brooke for Lacey, Reuben took on the role as a safe person for Brooke when she moved to New York. He helped her break free from her abusive father and supported her dreams of singing. But, his jealousy caused a rift between them Lacey deemed irreparable. Brooke swore they were just friends but this incident proved otherwise.

“We got bored, so we decided to compete for the most tips,” she explained. The bar was slow, and the two wanted to make their shift go faster; more money in the pot to come home with. “We had a few drinks to brighten up the mood, and one thing led to another,” she sobbed. “Reuben shared he still has feelings for me,” she continued. “I’m so sorry.”

All the blood rushed from her face as the confession sprang out of Brooke’s mouth. Lacey remained speechless for a beat as her emotions surfaced. A mix of anger, guilt, and self-loathing bubbled up. How could Brooke do this to her, knowing she was all she had in New York City? Why couldn’t Lacey have been there for Brooke when she needed her rather than Reuben? Was she not good enough to seal the wound that Reuben left in Brooke’s heart? All the questions hit her like a ton of bricks, making it hard for her to breathe and get her thoughts out.

“Say something,” Brooke begged.

“I’ve got to go,” Lacey responded. The weight of the four words imprinted her stance on the matter. Tears flowed from her eyes as she ended the call. The frigid air stung her face as the cold clashed with the heat of her cheeks. She had no idea what would happen between them as a couple, but space was needed to find out.

Editor: Lucy Cafiero