Graduation

Zoe sighed and pushed the cup up toward Alyssa's mouth so that she could sip on her wine.

"Not everything is gone. You are still going to New York and going to medical school.

You'll regret not making that step, even if it is alone. You won't be the only one," Zoe assured her.

"What about love? I don't even think I want to be with anyone ever again," Alyssa scoffed. Elias had ruined that for her.

He ruined everything, and she was starting to not even like him. She was so sad and so angry, and the feelings clashed painfully inside of her.

She sniffled as her heart ached, prompting her to drink some more.

Zoe gave her arm a light squeeze.

"That will take more time to heal than anything else. You might not date for a few months. Or a whole year.

It doesn't matter. You will know when the time is right. You'll have plenty of other things to focus on," she said.