When Love Says Goodbye

By noon at work, I had arranged to meet an agent to view an apartment. As I stepped into the elevator, I ran into Vinny and Walter.

Vinny’s hair was loose and she was happily letting Walter tie it up for her.

As soon as I stepped in, Walter flashed a faux-innocent smile and said, “Joel, perfect timing! Take a look at Ms. Lark here—a grown woman acting like a little girl, making me do her hair.”

Before I could get a word in, Vinny pinched Walter’s cheek with a playful smirk, her tone teasing yet sharp. “You’re the one who messed up my hair first! You little rascal and now you’re trying to pin it on me?”

Leaving Walter’s cheek slightly reddened from her pinch, she turned to me with an air of mock generosity and said, “Joel, since we’ve bumped into each other, why don’t you join me for lunch?”

We had worked in the same office complex but at different companies for five years. Not once had Vinny ever asked me to lunch during a break.

Every day, Joel would post on social media about every lunch he shared with Vinny. Thinking back to that moment, I couldn’t help but smile.

“You two go ahead, I have something to take care of.”

Vinny, clearly caught off guard by my refusal, froze for a moment. But before she could react, the elevator jolted sharply, plunging us into darkness.

Panic set in and Vinny let out a startled cry. As I quickly switched on the flashlight on my phone, she wasted no time—she practically leaped into Walter’s arms.

After a few tense moments, the elevator resumed functioning.

When we reached the first floor, Vinny, looking a bit guilty, offered to drive me to my appointment.

Before I could reply, Walter suddenly complained of chest pains, saying he needed to go to the hospital.

Without hesitation, Vinny pushed past me, gently helping Walter as they hurried toward the hospital.

I quietly picked up my phone, now shattered from the fall and used a ride-sharing app to grab a car to head to the apartment viewing.

Later in the evening, Vinny personally delivered a luxurious lunch box to my desk.

Half an hour ago, I saw Walter post a new update:

“Loving someone is like raising a pig. The boss has prepared a whole feast just to fatten up poor me while I work late.”

The picture showed a lavish spread of food filling an entire table.

I muttered a thank you but didn’t open the lunch box.

Vinny gave me a pointed look. “Joel, why are you being so formal with me?”

I didn’t answer her directly. Instead, I just said, “If that’s all, I’ve got to go print some documents.”

When I returned after printing my resignation letter, Vinny had already left.

She had left a sticky note. It said I could come upstairs to see her after I finished my work.

I tore off the note, along with the dessert she had left for me and tossed them both in the trash.

I walked into my boss’s office and handed in my resignation.

He tried to convince me to stay for a while, but seeing I was determined, he finally accepted the resignation letter.

According to the plan, I would be able to leave after finishing my shifts this week.

That night, at 10 PM, Vinny called me while I was having dinner with colleagues.

One of my female coworkers mistakenly answered the phone.

When I finally took the call, Vinny’s tone was icy cold. “Joel, where the hell are you partying at this time of night?”

I calmly replied, “Outside.”

“I know you're out! ... Have you been drinking? Send me your location, I’ll come pick you up.”

Without waiting for a response, she hung up.

I had been drinking, of course.

And who would turn down a free ride from a "female driver"?

I sent her my location, but after waiting until the store closed, Vinny never showed up.

I opened Walter’s social media and, sure enough, saw his post about being sick and hooked up to an IV.

I took a taxi home, showered and went to bed.

Around 3 AM, a tired and disheveled Vinny shook me awake.

Looking down at me, she said, "Joel, I’m starving. Hurry up and make me a bowl of whatever you’ve got."

She wasn’t even a fan of what she was asking for.

I knew this wasn’t for her—it was for Walter.

I tried to push her hand away, but as I did, my fingers brushed against the scar on the back of her hand.

It was from the time the school auditorium caught fire. If Vinny hadn’t pulled me to safety, I wouldn’t have made it out.

A life saved in exchange for a late-night snack—it felt like I came out on top.

When she saw me silently changing and getting ready to leave, Vinny grabbed my arm.

For once, there was a hint of hesitation in her voice. "Maybe we should wait until morning to do this… I mean..."

I cut her off, asking casually, "Aside from food, is there anything else he wants?"

After a brief pause, Vinny let go of my arm, muttering, "No… that’s it."