Saffron's POV:
I stood in front of my empty flat, my eyes brimming with tears. It had only been 3 months since Erynn and I broke up, but it felt like a lifetime. I couldn't bear to live in London anymore - every corner reminded me of her, and it was like a painful reminder of what we had lost. Sometimes, I would see something that reminded me of her- a song, a place, a smell- and I would break down in tears. It was like the wound of our breakup was still fresh, and I couldn't heal.
I had made the decision to move to Berlin permanently, where Under the Radar has a branch. Teresa has seen me become the shell of my past self and without a second thought agreed to my decision once I asked her.
I knew it was the right thing to do, but it didn't make it any easier. Leaving London meant leaving behind the memories of our relationship, and it was breaking my heart.
As I looked around my flat, I couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness wash over me. Erynn had been my whole world, and now she was gone. I missed her more than words could describe, and I knew I would spend the rest of my life wondering what could have been if only we'd put in more effort to make it work.
I wiped away the tears streaming down my face and took a deep breath. It was time to start a new chapter in my life, to put the past behind me and move forward. But as I closed the door to my empty flat, I couldn't help but feel a sense of overwhelming loss.
Erynn and I had shared so much together, and now it was all gone. I knew deep down that we both are in different points in life, and that's what had led to our breakup. But it didn't make it any easier to accept.
As I load my luggage in the back of Madiha's car, I couldn't help but wonder if Erynn is thinking of me too. I knew I had to let go of our relationship, but the memories of our time together are too precious to forget.
Madiha looked at me with an expression of concern as we hopped into her car that would take us to the airport. "Are you sure about this, Saffron?" she asked, her brows furrowed in worry.
I knew exactly what she was talking about. Leaving London and moving to Berlin is a huge decision, and it wasn't one that I had made lightly. But staying in London was no longer an option for me. Every street corner and every café seemed to remind me of Erynn, I needed a change of scenery, a fresh start. Berlin seemed like the perfect place for that. I'm familiar with the city and my mom is there.
"I'm sure," I replied, trying my best to sound confident. "I need to do this, Madiha. I can't stay in London anymore. It's too painful."
Madiha nodded, understanding written all over her face. "I know it's hard, Saffron. But just remember, we're here for you no matter what. And you'll make new memories in Berlin that will help you move on."
I smiled at her, grateful for her support. Nima, couldn't come with us because she had a photoshoot lined up. But just like Madiha, she had been supportive and encouraging throughout the whole process.
As we approached the airport, I took a deep breath and tried to steady my nerves. Leaving everything behind and starting afresh in a new city was terrifying, but I knew deep down that it was the right decision. And I had my friends by my side, which made all the difference.
"I'm ready for this," I said to Madiha, my voice firm and steady.
She smiled at me. "I know you are, Saffron. You've got this."
I couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness as I said goodbye to the city I had grown to love.
Madiha pulled up to the terminal and turned off the car. She turned to me and gave me a hug. "I'm going to miss you so much," she said. "It won't be the same without you here."
I hugged her back tightly. "I'll miss you too, Madiha. Thank you for everything." I got out of the car, leaning over the open window and saying, "I promise we'll talk all the time, and you can visit as often as you and Nima can."
Leaving everything behind is tough, but I know this is for the best. I'm ready for a new beginning.
I turned around to wave goodbye to Madiha. She gave me a reassuring smile, reminding me that I wasn't alone on this journey. I took my final step towards the entrance, ready to face my new future in Berlin - no matter what it had in store for me.
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I sat in the boarding area, clutching my boarding pass, my mind racing with all kinds of thoughts. I was leaving London, the city that once felt like home. I was heading to Berlin, where it all started. All this was happening because I needed to get away. Away from the memories. Away from the past.
At that moment, something caught my eye. A poster for Quirky Stevens' upcoming USA tour. My heart dropped, instantly reminded of the fact that I was leaving London because of her.
I took a deep breath, trying to will my emotions to stay in check. This was not the time to fall apart. I was leaving everything behind for a reason, and I needed to stick to my decision.
Just then, my phone buzzed. I looked at it to see that a notification had popped up. It was from Erynn's twitter; she's back in London. I felt a chill run down my spine. It's ironic how she had just arrived in London, totally unaware that I'm leaving. Fate, it seemed, had other plans for us.
(A/N: Ignore the Date & time of the post!)
I tried to distract myself by reading a book, but my mind kept wandering. I wondered if she was thinking about me, whether she regretted our break up. I quickly shook off those thoughts. I didn't want to think about something that was already done and dusted.
As I glanced around, scanning the airport for anything to entertain me, I saw her. Erynn. Making her way out the arrival gates with her bandmates, looking every bit the rockstar that she is. My heart raced, and I felt my palms grow clammy. I couldn't believe it. What were the chances that we'd end up in the same place at the same time? A place I was leaving, and she was arriving back into.
(A/N: for the sake of drama, let's pretend that it's possible to see people who just arrived because the boarding area and arrival gates are close by.)
I watched, curious to see if she had changed much since we called it quits, or if the distance and touring had taken a toll on her vibrant spirit.
And then, like a cruel twist of fate, My breath hitched in my throat as our eyes connected for an agonizingly long moment. The pain and undeniable magnetic pull between us was palpable, the weight of our history almost suffocating.
She looked different. Her hair back to its natural black, prominent bags under her eyes and a thinner body. I wanted to reach out, to ask how she was doing, but the burning ache in my chest held me back. We had both made the decision to end our relationship, and now here, in this unexpected intersection, I didn't know what to do.
A voice over the intercom announcement broke me out of my trance; it was my turn to board. As I stood up, I couldn't help but steal one last glance at Erynn, hoping she would meet my eyes once more. But she was long gone.
Boarding the plane, I realized that destiny had brought us together one last time, reminding me that sometimes closure was the hardest part of moving on. I settled into my seat, hoping the flight would be a smooth one, unlike the turbulence of emotions I'm currently feeling.
Hours later, as the plane landed in Berlin, I breathed a sigh of relief. I had made it to my destination. I walked out into the arrivals area of the airport, ready to start my new life in Berlin.
I knew I had to keep moving forward. It wasn't going to be easy, but maybe over time, the pain would lessen, and I could finally start to let go. Until then, I would hold onto our memories, knowing that she had a special place in my heart forever.
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Arrived in Berlin....
I made my way through throngs of people, lugging my suitcase behind me, and finally spotted my mom waiting for me with open arms.
"Hi mum," I said as I ran to give her a tight hug.
"It's so good to see you, Honey," my mum said, a smile spreading across her face. "How was your flight?"
"It felt long, but I managed to sleep for most of it," I said, grabbing her hand and walking towards the exit. "So, where are we staying?"
"I just moved to an apartment in Charlottenburg," my mum said, leading the way to the exit. "It's not too far from the city center, and it's near some great restaurants and shops."
I nodded, excited to see her new home and spend time with her for the next two weeks. As we drove through the city, my mum pointed out some of the main sights: the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag building, and the Berlin Wall.
"I forgot how it's so beautiful here," I said, gazing out the window at the city's architecture. "I can't wait to start exploring again." I added, reminiscing about my last visit.
After settling into the apartment, I sat down with mum on the couch, We started catching up on everything that had happened since we last saw each other. But as soon as we settled in with some tea, I cracked.
"What's wrong dear?" My mum asked, concern lacing her voice.
I had been holding back my emotions during the flight, but I knew I needed to talk to someone about it.
"Erynn and I broke up," I said, setting down my tea and fighting back tears.
My mum moved closer to me, offering a comforting hand on my back.
"I'm sorry, Saffron. That's never easy," she said.
I leaned into her and let myself cry, letting out all the emotions that had been building up inside me. My mum had always been my rock, and I knew I could trust her with anything.
As I slowly composed myself, my mum said, "You know, Saffron, sometimes these things happen for a reason. Maybe this is the universe's way of telling you that there's something better out there for you."
Her words gave me some comfort, and I knew she was right. Maybe it was time to take a step back and reevaluate what I really wanted in life.
Over the next few days, before I go and live in my own place, mum and I explored the city together, trying delicious street food and visiting some of Berlin's famous landmarks. Being here with her made the world feel a little less daunting and a little more manageable. And for that, I was grateful.
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2 months in Berlin...
As I walked through the streets of Berlin, my heart felt lighter than it had in months. It's been 5 months since and I had been trying to move on, but it seemed like nothing could shake off the pain that hung over me. That was until I met Easton.
It was just a chance encounter. I was at a street fair, browsing through a collection of vintage vinyl records when I heard someone laughing beside me. I couldn't help but turn my head towards the source of that sound.
That's when I saw him, and he saw me. He had a mischievous grin on his face, and his eyes sparkled with amusement. He's trying to haggle with a vendor selling roasted chestnuts.
The vendor was having none of it, but the guy didn't seem to get the hint.
Finally, the guy turned to the vendor and said, "Come on, man. You remind me of my ex-wife. Always stubborn."
I couldn't help but let out a laugh at his joke. I couldn't remember the last time I'd laughed so hard. The guy turned around and saw me laughing, and I could see the surprise on his face. I walked closer, deciding to buy a bag as well.
"Sorry about that," he said, chuckling. "I didn't mean to make a scene."
"It's fine," I said, still chuckling. "Your joke was pretty good."
He grinned at me. "Thanks. I'm Easton, by the way."
"I'm Saffron," I replied, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you."
We chatted for a bit while we waited in line, and I found out that Easton is an aspiring musician traveling around Europe for work. I told him about my job and how I work with a lot of musicians like him. He seemed nonchalant about it, a nice change considering new musicians are always trying to get me to introduce them to bigger personalities.
He had a quick wit and sense of humor that had me laughing the entire time.
When it was finally our turn to get our roasted chestnuts, we both ordered a bag and shared them as we walked down the street.
"Thanks for making me laugh," I said, smiling at him.
"No problem," he said, returning my smile. "It's always nice to share a laugh with a stranger. Especially one as beautiful as you."
I blushed at his compliment, feeling a flutter in my stomach. We struck a conversation, and before I knew it, we were talking about music and art and life. He was funny and charming and easy to talk to. I found myself drawn to him, and he seemed to be enjoying my company as well.
I was proven right when he turned to me, a faint blush on his cheeks. "I know we just met, but I feel like we have a real connection. Would you like to get coffee sometime?" he asked, and I hesitated for a moment. I hadn't been on a date since Erynn, and the thought of getting close to someone new made me feel apprehensive.
But then he said something that made me realize how silly I was being. "Life is meant to be enjoyed. We shouldn't let our fears and past experiences hold us back from experiencing something new."
I hesitated. I didn't want to rush into anything, but something about him made me want to say yes. I took a deep breath and said, "I would love to go out with you again."
He smiled and we continued to talk and laugh. The hours flew by, and before I knew it, we had spent the entire day together. He showed me around the city, sharing his favorite spots and telling me stories of his adventures.
While part of me still held Erynn's memory close, I knew that life had a way of moving forward. And perhaps, in this encounter with Easton, there was a chance for new beginnings and the discovery of a happiness I hadn't even dared to imagine.
We exchanged numbers and said our goodbyes, and as I walked back to my apartment, I couldn't help but feel like maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up again. I didn't know if this would last or this would be something that would ruin me again. But if there was a small chance that Easton is the one to make me happy, truly happy, I'd take it.
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Easton is played by Win Metawin
(A/N:) I'M SORRY! 😬 I know this hurts but just hold on!