Just as I sit after thanking Jo with a standing ovation, there’s a vibration in my pocket. My heart leaps into my throat. With trembling hands, I slide my phone out. A text from Camille. Bonsoir Sydney, it says, and it’s accompanied by a picture of her blowing me a kiss. I just sent you that email, it continues. I’ve been working on it since I was waiting for my plane to leave yesterday—or whatever day it was.

Camille sent me an email. Something unclenches in my stomach. Something I’ve been holding on to since she left. As though I was waiting for a sign that we were, somehow, still on. That she didn’t decide to forget about me as soon as she set foot on French soil. Because it’s too hard to be in love with someone living on the other side of the world. Because on her journey to find herself, she did. And she’s ready to take up a new life. A better one. I don’t know anything about the Parisian lesbian scene, but I can only imagine quite a few women would like to take her out for cheese and wine—and more.

While Josephine launches into the next song, I open my email application and impatiently wait for Camille’s email to come in. Then there it is. In black and white on my screen.

Caitlin is too wrapped up in Josephine’s performance to pay attention to my phone shenanigans. My pulse picks up speed as I tap to open it.

Mon Amour,

Zoya,

Have I told you how much I like your name? The way it sounds and makes me feel when it rolls off my tongue? I found myself crazily whispering it out loud on the plane. I don’t know any other Zoyas. You’re the only one.

I didn’t actually write this on the plane. But I thought about it. I composed it in my head over and over again to make time go by faster. Even though the faster time went, the farther I was taken away from you. Everything seems to have turned into this double-edged sword now that I’ve met you.

I have a confession to make. Once I made it past security, I cried. Not a lot. Not enough to embarrass myself—not that I care much about that—but the tears just spilled from my eyes all of a sudden. It was unstoppable. Because you have done something to me. And you’re in my heart, but you’re so far away. I wonder what you’ll be doing when you get this. Have you watched our video yet?