She and Damian had been moving along in their relationship off the back of their familiarity with each other and the good times…really good times…they’d had in the past. Damian was solid and dependable, excellent in communication, even better in bed, and a perfect physical specimen. That was why Cosima had become excellent at ignoring the pangs of ‘this can’t be it’ that sometimes stuttered in her chest, leaving her feeling disappointed in herself.

She was perfectly content with Damian, even if sometimes a bit disconnected, but Cosima had assumed they would just continue meandering toward all the other checkbox stages of life. The engagement, the marriage, the house, the kids.

Damian put an end to all of that in the dim lighting of their hotel room in quiet, soothing tones and a voice laced with regret.

“We’ve been just going through the motions for a while now,” he’d said, brushing his hand across his face as he moved next to Cosima, where she sat on the bed with her back ramrod straight and body stiff. “I’m sorry.”

“Say something,” Damian urged after a few seconds passed while Cosima tried to process the avalanche of emotions she felt because rejection always stung — it didn’t matter that she could feel the first wisps of relief gathering like smoke in the pit of her stomach. Then, of course, guilt showed up to join the party of emotions that made it hard for her to breathe.

“You’re right,” she admitted after another few seconds ticked by, managing a small smile at the relief visibly snaking its way through her now ex-boyfriend’s body.

Seven years.

Cosima couldn’t believe seven years ended just like that. There were neither fireworks nor a bang. It ended as smoothly as the formalization of a well-negotiated business transaction.

Now that stung.

“I don’t understand,” she’d said when she was finally able to find her voice. “Why now? If we’ve been going through the motions, what made you decide to end it on Thanksgiving?”

His skin, the shade of toasted almonds, blanched a little. “This is the exact opposite of what I planned to do tonight.”

Damian reached into his pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. “I was going to propose.”

A gurgle of laughter, more hysterical than amused, spilled from Cosima’s mouth. “Don’t get me wrong. You made the right decision. I just can’t figure out how you got here.”