The shifts had become routine for us. I’d show up at Grizzco, knowing Jun Lin would be there, ready to rush headfirst into trouble. We had our rhythm now. She was still reckless, but I didn’t mind as much anymore. In fact, I’d started to count on it. I’d save her, she’d grin at me with that carefree smile, and we’d grab coffee after, talking about everything and nothing.
It was good. Maybe too good.
That’s why it hit me so hard when she didn’t show up for our shift.
At first, I thought she was just late. Jun Lin was never on time. I stood there, waiting at the docks, trying to play it cool like I wasn’t looking for her, but by the end of the shift, the unease had started to creep in. She wasn’t just late—she wasn’t coming.
It was after the shift, as I was heading out, that I got the message.
The Message
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, expecting some casual excuse, maybe a “Sorry, overslept” or something like that. But when I opened the text, my stomach dropped.
“Jaycee, I’m sorry I didn’t come. I didn’t know how to tell you this in person, but... I’m leaving. I’ve finally saved enough to go to Inkopolis and chase my dream. I’ll be gone before you finish your shift. I didn’t want you to see me go. I’m sorry.”
For a moment, I just stared at the message, my mind racing. She was leaving? She wasn’t even going to say goodbye? I tried to wrap my head around it, but the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. Why hadn’t she told me? Why did she think she could just disappear like that, without facing me?
Without thinking, I was already running toward the station.
The Train Station
The platform was crowded when I arrived, but I spotted her instantly—her light blue ink stood out like a beacon, even in the chaos. She was standing near the train, her bags packed, looking around nervously, as if she half-expected to see me.
And when she did, her eyes widened in shock. I pushed through the crowd, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Jaycee—”
“Why?” I cut her off, my voice sharp with frustration. “Why didn’t you tell me face-to-face? Were you just going to leave without saying anything?”
She bit her lip, looking away for a moment. “I... I didn’t know how. I thought it would be easier this way.”
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“Easier for who?” I asked, my voice rising. I could feel the anger boiling over. “You think it’s easier to just disappear?”
Jun Lin looked down, her hand clutching her bag tightly. “I was scared,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the noise of the station. “I didn’t want to see how you’d react. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. I stood there, breathing heavily, trying to make sense of it all. She didn’t want to hurt me. But leaving like this—this was worse.
I clenched my fists, trying to hold back the frustration, but it was no use. “You made me believe things were fine. That we had more time. And now you’re just... gone?”
She looked up at me, and I could see the tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Jaycee. I didn’t mean to...”
I couldn’t take it anymore. Before I even realized what I was doing, I pulled her into a hug. It wasn’t gentle—it was desperate, like I was holding on to her for dear life. She stiffened at first, but then her arms wrapped around me, her face pressed against my chest.
“I’ve always been alone,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Before I met you, it was just me, doing the same thing every day. But you—you made things different. And now you’re leaving, and I’m scared that it’s going to go back to the way it was.”
Jun Lin didn’t say anything at first. I felt her tears soaking into my shirt, but she didn’t pull away. She just held me tighter, as if she could feel the weight of my words.
“I’m sorry,” she finally whispered. “I have to go. This is my dream. But... I’ll come back. I promise. I’ll come back when I’m done.”
Her words were comforting, but they didn’t fix the ache in my chest. I wanted her to stay. I wanted her to choose me. But I knew that wasn’t fair. She had her own path, and I couldn’t stand in the way of that.
Still, it hurt.
The Confession
“I love you,” I blurted out, the words escaping before I could stop them. It wasn’t planned. It wasn’t how I wanted to say it. But in that moment, it was all I could think about. I loved her, and I wanted her to know, even if it didn’t change anything.
Jun Lin pulled back slightly, her eyes searching mine. For a moment, I thought she might not say anything. But then she smiled—a soft, sad smile that made my heart ache even more.
“I love you too, Jaycee,” she said quietly. “But my dream comes first.”
I nodded, though it felt like my heart was shattering. “I’ll wait for you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. “No matter how long it takes, I’ll wait.”
She gave me a long, lingering look, her light blue eyes filled with a mix of sadness and affection. Then, without another word, she leaned in and kissed me. It wasn’t rushed or desperate—it was slow, deliberate, like she was trying to say everything she couldn’t put into words.
But just like everything else, the moment didn’t last.
The Departure
The station’s announcer crackled to life, reminding us all that the train for Inkopolis was about to depart. Jun Lin pulled away from me, her eyes widening in panic.
“I have to go,” she said, grabbing her bags.
I helped her, grabbing the heavier ones as we rushed toward the platform. We barely made it to the train in time. She turned to face me one last time, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“I’ll return, I promise,” she said, stepping onto the train.
“I’ll wait for you... always,” I replied, my voice catching in my throat.
The doors slid shut, and I watched as the train began to move. I ran alongside it, my eyes locked on her light blue ink through the window, until I reached the edge of the platform and the train disappeared from view.
The station felt empty, even though it was still crowded. And for the first time in a long time, I felt alone again.
“Always...” I whispered to myself.