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It was over the past summer when they had first said “I love you” to each other. The fear that he was merely a passing blip on Julie’s trajectory had faded when their love only got stronger every week, every month. And although they both wanted to stay in New York City, Julie had told him she would go with him wherever his medical residency turned out to be.
While his career goals had to remain at the top of his priorities, he knew the love he and Julie had was the foundation, the fuel that gave meaning to his life. He’d seen it in the love his parents had for each other and had always hoped he might find it too. And he believed it was there with Julie. She was proving to be more wonderful than he’d imagined when he first met her.
He had even risked taking her to a party at his dad’s firehouse, and introducing her to his parents had gone much better than he’d thought it would. The fact that his younger sister was training to be a firefighter might have helped, but it was also Julie. His mom couldn’t help but love her.
While eating his lunch, Noah checked his phone and saw no message from Julie today. When she first left for London, she’d told him she was busy with her father’s plans for the holidays and events with some business partners or something like that, so she started just texting a simple “Love you” every day that he would answer with a “Love you back.”
But now it had been almost a week since he’d heard from her. He had sent her a couple short texts the last few days but did not want to come off as badgering her. And after Dr. Scott’s warning about his grades, Noah told himself to stop thinking about her and get his schoolwork up to par.
About an hour into his work, a phone call came in. Not a text. And when he answered it, he was so excited to hear Julie’s voice. But what she was saying was a punch to the gut.
Julie said she called him to tell him she had enrolled in the interior design program at the London College of Fashion.
“What does that mean?” he asked, hoping somehow it was not what he thought.
“It means I’m staying in London.”
His heart sank. “For how long? When are you coming back?”
“I, uh, don’t know. Maybe this summer.” Her voice sounded thin and hesitant, not like his usual Julie.
“Maybe? Are you telling me—”
“They’ve got a really good program and I can take courses in fashion design too.”
Like she couldn’t do that here, but he was not going to say that. He was already sounding desperate. Before he could think of what else to say, Julie went on.
“I want you to stay in the apartment, Noah. Everything is paid for, so don’t worry about that. Just get to your studies. I know you got a little pulled off track because of me.”
“How did you know that?” he asked, suspicious now.
“Dr. Scott told my father.”
“Well, it was my choice to spend my time with you. I’m the one responsible for that. We can work out a schedule when you come back. I hope that was not the reason you decided to—”
“Listen, I’ve gotta go. I’m meeting my new roommate this afternoon.”
“Male or female?” He couldn’t help himself.
“Her name is Gillian Maxwell.”
“I’m going to miss you. I already do.”
“This will be good for us, Noah. Don’t think about me.”
“Julie, you sound upset. What’s going on? Your voice is cracking.”
“No, I’m fine. It’s just the reception. Gotta run.”
And she was gone.
No “love you” and nothing about missing him. Or about what they had together. But her voice did not sound right.
Or was that all in his head?
Was it his way of convincing himself he was not losing her?
One month later,Julie’s father invited her to lunch at the London flat he was staying in for another week before he went back to the States.
