"You're stalling," James observed. They were at their usual café, celebrating the end of finals.
"I'm being thorough."
"You're being scared."
"That too."
Yuki, who'd been silent as usual, finally spoke. "Fear means it matters. If you weren't scared, the choice wouldn't be important."
Lucy looked at her friend—quiet Yuki, who rarely shared but always understood.
"How did you decide to come to Paris?" Lucy asked. "You left Japan, left your family. How did you know it was right?"
"I didn't know. I just knew I had to try. Not trying would have been worse than failing."
"But what if I try and I'm wrong? What if I choose Paris and regret it? Or choose Timber Falls and spend my life wondering what could have been?"
"Then you will learn something. But Lucy—" Yuki looked directly at her, "—not choosing is also a choice. And regret from inaction is worse than regret from trying."
On July first, Lucy woke up with no answers.
The restaurants expected her response today. She'd asked for an extension until July 15th, but they wanted some indication of her intentions. Some sign she was seriously considering staying.
Lucy pulled out her phone and texted all three restaurants the same message:Still considering. Will have final answer by July 15th. Thank you for your patience.
Then she texted Jake:Tomorrow. You're really coming tomorrow.
Jake:Flight lands at 3 PM. Can I see you that evening?
Lucy:Yes. Come to my apartment. I'll make dinner.
Jake:You don't have to—
Lucy:I want to. I want to cook for you. Using everything I've learned here.
Jake:Okay. See you tomorrow.
Lucy:See you tomorrow.
Lucy set down her phone and looked around her tiny Paris apartment. Tomorrow Jake would be here. In this space she'd made her own. Seeing her life in Paris. Seeing who she'd become.
And then—somehow—she'd have to decide. Paris or Timber Falls. This life or that one.
Two weeks. That's all she had left.
Two weeks to choose.
The flight to Paris felt longer than it had in March.
Jake spent eight hours thinking about what he wanted to say to Lucy. How to be honest without being manipulative. How to fight for their relationship without pressuring her choice.
By the time he landed, he still had no idea what he was doing.
Jake took a taxi to his hotel—same one as last time, in the Marais, walking distance from Lucy's apartment. He checked in, showered, changed, and stared at himself in the mirror.
"You can do this," he told his reflection. "Just be honest. That's all you can do."
At 6 PM, Jake walked to Lucy's apartment. His hands were shaking as he climbed the four flights of stairs.
