CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND TWO - What Comes After Letting Go?

Back in her apartment, Nia mechanically put away her purchases. She spent the rest of the afternoon sitting by the window, watching the quiet street below. A couple walked by, hand in hand, and Nia felt a pang in her chest. She turned away, unable to bear the sight of their easy affection. As days passed, Nia fell into a monotonous routine. She woke late, barely ate, and spent hours staring at her phone, her finger hovering over Leon's number. Sometimes, she'd pull up their old text conversations, reading through them with a mixture of longing and regret. Calls from Maria and her family went unanswered. Nia sent brief texts to assure them she was fine, but couldn't bring herself to engage in actual conversations. The thought of hearing the concern in their voices, of having to pretend she was okay, was too much to bear. One evening, about a week after her move, Nia found herself once again lying awake, memories playing on repeat in her mind. She closed her eyes, Leon's face appearin