“What are some of your future plans?” It takes all my effort to keep my voice steady, but I manage. Or at least, I think I do. But then Maria and Joey give me looks of concern.

“Are you feeling all right?” Maria asks.

“Yeah,” I reply. “I mean, I think so…”

I must not have been convincing, because Celeste walks over to the video cameras and pauses the recording. “Why don’t we all take a fifteen-minute break?” she says diplomatically. “So the girls can get a break from screen time and everyone who needs it can go to the restroom.”

As if on cue, Kaylee says, “Mommy, can I go to the bathroom?”

The couple laughs, and Celeste directs the Amatos to the restroom upstairs. I watch them, but I can’t get a sound out myself. The room is spinning, and I can barely breathe.

“Sorry,” I finally manage to say. But even then, I’m not sure if anyone can hear me. “I’m gonna get some fresh air.”

I rush out of the building as tears start falling from my eyes. The streets are crowded with people heading out for dinner and drinks.

The door slams shut behind me, and some passersby startle at the noise. I ignore them and sit on the ground with my back against the door.

Pulling my legs into my chest, I try to become as small and inconspicuous as possible as I listen to myself breathe. At first, my breaths come in heaves, quick but heavy, before gradually becoming slow and deep.

I’d been doing relatively well in the last couple of weeks, so I thought I was better now. I thought I was over what happened between James and me. But clearly, I’m not. And I’m so sick of not being okay.

The door opens, and I almost fall back. Before I can, firm but gentle hands grip my shoulders and hold me steady.

“Hey,” says Celeste.

When I don’t say anything in response, Celeste continues, “Do you want me to ask the Amatos if they can come back another time to finish the interview?”

I blink up at her. Her face is blurry because of the tears clouding my vision.

Celeste’s eyes widen with concern. “Gem, what’s wrong?”

Before either of us can think twice, she sits down on the ground and wraps her arms around me. In this one moment, I’m too broken up inside to care how weird it is that, of all people, my college ex is here, comforting me while I try to deal with the pain from my most recent breakup.