Laurent

*They all said it wouldn’t last* “Long distance is a fool’s game,”*they warned, like they were prophets of heartbreak. But I—I was stubborn. I believed in the late-night calls, the voice notes, the countdowns till we’d meet again. I believed in us* *So one day, with hope blooming in my chest and a bouquet of fresh-cut flowers in my hands, I decided to surprise him. I imagined the smile on his face. I imagined the warmth in his hug. I imagined love* *What I didn’t imagine... was her* *She opened the door—some girl I’d never seen in my life. Confused, I blinked, thinking maybe I had the wrong apartment. But then I heard it*