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I’m good, thanks for asking

I hope you’re okay too

Congrats on getting a job at Qpik

It’s a great company to work for

I’m sure Roxie is very happy to have you nearby

I never eat at the cafeteria, so no worries about bumping into me there

Trey does though, so you will probably see him

Congrats again on your new job

I am sure you will kill it

Good luck!

His texts take the wind out of my sails. He is perfectly polite as he basically tells me he doesn’t want to see me again.

I suppose I deserve it.

Although I can’t help but text back.

Liz: I am really sorry

About before

Mercifully, he responds right away.

Joe: It’s okay

No need to apologize

We need different things at the moment

You were clear from the start, I just didn’t want to hear it

It would’ve been nice if I’d met you at another time

But perhaps it wouldn’t have mattered, who knows

Take care, Liz nee Melanie

Good luck at your new job, I mean it

It feels so final, my heart squeezes.

I mean, what did I expect? It is unfair to yank his chain. I know what he wants and that’s not what I can give, not right now anyway. I can’t expect him to wait.

Only, if I’m being completely honest, waiting is exactly what I want him to do.

****

I start on the following Monday, and I’m immediately swamped. New employee orientation, tasks left unfinished by my predecessor that have urgent upcoming deadlines—it all comes crashing down on me at once. I like my coworkers and my boss, but I’m definitely not in Kansas anymore. There is much more work than what I’m used to, so I don’t make it to lunch or coffee with Roxie even once during that first week.

I wonder if I made a mistake by taking this job.