THE BATTLE BETWEEN HEALING AND HABIT

Nathan thought breaking up with Olivia would be the hardest part.

He was wrong.

The hardest part was everything that came after.

The mornings when he instinctively reached for his phone, expecting a text that would never come.

The nights when he lay awake, wondering if she was missing him the way he still—unfortunately—missed her.

The random moments throughout the day when something reminded him of her—the smell of vanilla from a passing stranger's perfume, the sound of a song they once sang together in the car, the inside jokes no one else would understand.

It was like trying to unlearn a language he had spoken fluently for two years.

And it hurt.

But pain was proof of progress. At least, that's what he kept telling himself.

---

Ghosts of Olivia

Nathan hadn't spoken to Olivia since that one text she had sent: "So, that's it?"

He hadn't replied.

And she hadn't sent anything else.

It was both a relief and a fresh wound.

Because, deep down, he had hoped—even though he knew better—that she would try.

That she would show up at his door, saying she finally understood what she had done wrong. That she would fight for him the way he had once fought for her.

But she hadn't.

And that told him everything he needed to know.

Still, the ghost of her lingered.

On Tuesday, he walked into the café where they had first met, forgetting that it had been their place. The smell of roasted coffee beans hit him, and for a second, he swore he could hear her laughter from that day—the way she had giggled when she took his order by mistake.

On Wednesday, he saw a notification pop up: Olivia posted a new story.

He shouldn't have looked.

But he did.

It was a video. Olivia, sitting across from Daniel at a restaurant, laughing.

Daniel.

Nathan's stomach twisted. He clicked out of it immediately, his jaw tightening.

He knew this was coming. He had always known. Olivia had never admitted that there was something between her and Daniel, but Nathan wasn't stupid. He had seen the way she dropped everything for him. The way she prioritized him.

He just hadn't wanted to believe it.

But now?

Now, it was like she wasn't even trying to hide it.

Nathan's hands curled into fists. Not because he wanted her back. Not because he wished he was the one sitting across from her at that restaurant.

But because it was confirmation of something he had been afraid of for months.

He had never truly been enough for her.

And Daniel was.

Nathan turned off his phone, breathing heavily.

It doesn't matter anymore.

He wasn't going to let her have power over him anymore.

---

Eric's Brutal Honesty

Eric didn't wait for Nathan to tell him about Olivia's post.

When Nathan met him for a drink that night, Eric immediately said, "I saw that shit. You okay?"

Nathan let out a dry laugh. "I don't know."

Eric leaned forward. "Let me make it easier for you: She's trash."

Nathan rolled his eyes. "Come on, man."

"No, seriously." Eric set his beer down. "You gave her everything, and she treated you like a backup option. If she wanted to be with Daniel, she should've had the decency to break things off with you before stringing you along."

Nathan exhaled. He knew Eric was right. He just didn't know what to do with that truth.

Eric studied him for a moment. "Tell me something, Nate. Do you actually miss her? Or do you just miss the habit of having her around?"

Nathan blinked. He opened his mouth to answer, but… he wasn't sure.

Did he miss Olivia? Or did he just miss the idea of her?

Miss the routine? The companionship? The comfort of knowing there was someone to text, someone to call, someone who—at least in theory—was his person?

Because if he was being honest…

He didn't miss the way she dismissed his feelings.

He didn't miss the way she made him feel small.

He didn't miss who she actually was.

He just missed not being alone.

Nathan swallowed hard, staring at the condensation on his beer glass. "I don't know."

Eric sighed. "Well, figure it out. Because the sooner you realize she was never the right one, the sooner you'll be ready for someone who actually deserves you."

Nathan scoffed. "Like who?"

Eric smirked. "I don't know. But I do know she won't have a dude named Daniel hanging around, waiting for you to slip up."

Nathan chuckled. It was a weak laugh, but it was real.

And for the first time since the breakup, he thought—maybe he really would be okay.

---

Running Into Olivia

Life had a twisted sense of humor.

Because just when Nathan was finally starting to breathe again, he ran into Olivia.

It happened at the grocery store.

He turned a corner, and there she was—standing in the cereal aisle, looking at her phone.

For a second, he considered turning around and walking the other way. But then she looked up.

And their eyes met.

She blinked in surprise. "Oh."

Nathan forced a polite nod. "Olivia."

She hesitated, then smiled—like nothing had happened. Like they hadn't torn each other apart just days ago.

"How've you been?" she asked casually.

Nathan almost laughed.

How had he been?

Oh, you know. Just going through a breakup you caused. Just trying to erase two years of emotional damage. Just finally learning to stop hoping you'll care.

But he just shrugged. "I've been good."

Olivia tilted her head, studying him. "You don't seem mad."

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Should I be?"

She smirked. "Well, considering how dramatic you were about everything—"

And there it was.

Nathan exhaled slowly. He should have expected this. Olivia wasn't here to apologize. She was here to win.

To prove to herself that she still had some level of control over him.

But she didn't.

Not anymore.

Nathan gave her a small smile. "I'm not mad, Olivia. I just don't care anymore."

Her smirk faltered. "Oh."

Nathan nodded. "Take care."

And then—before she could say anything else—he walked away.

---

The Weight Finally Lifts

That night, Nathan lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

For the first time since the breakup, he didn't feel anger. He didn't feel resentment. He didn't feel sadness.

He just felt… free.

Because Olivia's opinion of him no longer mattered.

Because he had finally chosen himself over her.

Because he was finally done letting her live rent-free in his mind.

Nathan closed his eyes and exhaled.

The healing wasn't over. But it had begun.

And this time, he wasn't looking back.

--