Chapter 12: Losing Him Didn’t Mean Losing Myself

The New York offer came with one condition: I had to decide quickly.

I sat at my desk long after everyone else had gone home, staring at the relocation email.

Six months ago, I would have been terrified to make a decision that big without Matteo.

Now, the thought of making it without him felt strangely freeing.

I clicked Accept.

For the first time in twelve years, I had chosen something without wondering whether Matteo would approve.

The next morning, my manager called me into her office.

"Congratulations, Celeste. The New York office wants you to lead the entire account."

I smiled.

"I accept."

When I walked back to my desk, my phone vibrated.

Matteo.

I stared at his name for several seconds before opening the message.

"I heard you're moving to New York. I'm happy for you."

Another message appeared.

"I know I don't have the right to ask anything from you anymore, but I wanted you to know that I'm proud of you."

I almost deleted the conversation.

Instead, I typed one sentence.

"Thank you."

I sent it before I could change my mind.

His reply came almost immediately.

"That's enough."

I put my phone down.

For once, there was no argument. No guilt. No promise that he would change.

Just acceptance.

That evening, while packing the first few boxes for my move, I found an old photo tucked inside a book.

It was Matteo and me at twenty-one, laughing beside a frozen lake.

Back then, I had believed love meant holding on no matter what.

Now I understood something different.

Sometimes love meant knowing when to let go.

I placed the photograph in a box marked KEEP.

Not because I wanted him back.

Because that girl in the photograph deserved to remember that she had once been happy.

And she deserved to know that losing Matteo had not meant losing herself.