The turning point

The days stretched on, and Ren didn't come.

Emma told herself she was fine. She buried herself in work, took long walks through Shinjuku, and even forced herself to go out with colleagues for drinks. She laughed when she was supposed to. Smiled when expected.

But every time she passed a quiet alleyway or saw the reflection of city lights on the river, she thought of him.

Was he thinking of her too?

Then, one morning, everything changed.

A call from New York.

"Emma, we need you back," her editor said. "A position just opened, and it's yours if you want it."

Her heart pounded.

Returning to New York had always been the plan. But now…

She had built a life here. A new rhythm. A new version of herself.

And Ren.

Even if he wasn't here now, he had been part of her story.

But he hadn't come after her.

Maybe that was her answer.

"Emma?" her editor prompted.

She took a breath. "I need time to think."

She had one week to decide.

One week before she had to choose: go back to her old life or keep chasing something uncertain.

And this time, Ren wouldn't be the one to decide.