Kimberly sat at her desk, the screen of her laptop glowing in front of her as she clicked through the last few emails of the day. She was exhausted even though it was only Tuesday evening—the second week day. But she couldn't stop—she couldn't afford to stop. Her work as a digital marketer for a renowned company in the city was demanding, but it kept her distracted, which was exactly what she needed.
The moment she let her guard down, even for a second, thoughts of love, relationships, and everything she'd been trying to avoid would creep in. So, Kimberly buried herself in her work, diving deeper into campaigns, analyzing results, optimizing strategies, and sending reports to clients.
She clicked another email open, but the sound of her phone vibrating on the table caught her attention. It was a message from Audrey.
Audrey: Don't forget, Tuesday Tea at 7 PM. Quiet café, you know the one!
Kimberly sighed, glancing at the time. It was already 6:00 PM. She hadn't even realized how late it had gotten. Audrey and the others had been inviting her for weeks, but Kimberly kept making excuses. She couldn't remember the last time she had a real conversation about relationships or love or her friends' life updates.
Kimberly: I'll be there. Just need a bit to wrap things up.
Audrey, of course, responded almost immediately with a thumbs-up emoji. Kimberly tossed her phone onto the desk with a sigh, rubbing her temples. She didn't mind seeing her friends, but every time the topic of dating or love came up, she always felt like there was a part of her she couldn't let anyone see.
She stood up from her desk, stretching her arms and letting out a quiet breath. Work had been her escape for so long now that it almost felt like a shield. But tonight, she couldn't hide behind it. Not with her friends waiting.
…
Tuesday Tea.
The evening air was crisp as Kimberly walked into the quiet café, her footsteps soft against the polished floor. The café was a quiet, aesthetic place—a cozy spot with soft lighting, simple décor, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee and pastries. It was their usual Tuesday Tea, a tradition that had been going on for months. Every week, the four friends would gather to unwind and catch up. The café had become their safe space, a place where they could talk about everything—and sometimes, nothing at all.
Audrey, as always, was the first to greet her. "Hey, you're on time for once!" she teased with a smile, sitting at their usual booth in the corner of the café. Audrey was quick to order her usual caramel macchiato, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Laura and Chloe were already there, each holding a warm cup of tea. Chloe's expression was animated as she spoke about her day. Her eyes brightened as she looked up at Kimberly, obviously excited to share.
"Okay, so I had the weirdest encounter today," Chloe began, her voice filled with amusement. "I ran into Derrick."
Kimberly's face immediately froze. Derrick. Her ex. It was hard not to remember how their relationship ended so abruptly and the damage it caused. She tried to mask the unease that stirred in her chest.
"Really?" Audrey raised an eyebrow, her tone curious. "Was it awkward?"
"Awkward doesn't even begin to cover it," Chloe said, taking a sip of her tea. "I bumped into him and his new girlfriend. I wasn't expecting that. They looked all cozy together. I thought I was going to lose it for a second."
Kimberly sat back in her seat, trying to keep her expression neutral. She hated how Derrick still seemed to have some effect on her, even after all this time. Her eyes wandered to the table, her fingers tracing the edge of her cup.
"Did you say anything to him?" Laura asked, genuinely curious.
Chloe laughed softly, shaking her head. "What could I possibly say? 'Congrats on the new girlfriend'? I just smiled awkwardly and kept it moving."
Kimberly nodded, feeling a twinge of empathy for Chloe. Even though it had been years since Chloe and Derrick had broken up, it was clear there were still some remnants of that past relationship.
Audrey, ever the observer, watched Kimberly closely, sensing her discomfort. But instead of pushing, she leaned back, sipping her coffee. The topic of Chloe's ex seemed to be enough of a distraction for now.
"So," Audrey said, her tone shifting. "How's Alex, Laura?"
Laura smiled, her face lighting up at the mention of her boyfriend. "He's great. We've been spending more time together lately. He's planning a little weekend getaway for us next month, actually. I'm really looking forward to it."
"That's so cute," Chloe commented, her voice softer now. "You two seem perfect for each other."
Kimberly smiled at the mention of Laura and Alex's relationship. They were definitely one of the more stable couples she knew. Laura had always been the practical one, and Alex seemed to match her energy perfectly.
"What about you, Aud?" Kimberly asked, eager to shift the focus away from herself. "How's Austin?"
Audrey grinned, her eyes sparkling with affection. "We're good. He's been working a lot, but we still manage to squeeze in some time for date nights. He's got this new idea for a business venture, and it's taking up a lot of his time. But I'm proud of him. He's driven."
"That's so sweet," Chloe chimed in. "You two make a good team."
The conversation shifted again, and the topic was no longer about love or relationships. Kimberly found herself focusing more on the daily grind, on her own busy schedule as a digital marketer. It felt easier to talk about work than anything remotely personal. Audrey and the others continued their discussion, but Kimberly remained quietly detached, only chiming in when asked.
As the evening wore on, the group talked about new projects, marketing strategies, and what everyone had been working on lately. Audrey spoke about her plans for expanding her salon, Chloe discussed her interior design gigs, and Laura shared her latest accounting challenges. Kimberly did her best to keep up, though her mind kept drifting. She couldn't help but feel distant, even though her friends were there, in front of her.