Leah's POV
If there's one thing I've learned about Nyla Park, it's that she never lets anyone see her struggle.
She always smiled even when things were terrible and always said that she'd figure things out. Suprisingly, she always did. We met in college, two broke girls with big dreams and bigger student loans, we both decided to study business with the hopes of becoming big shot CEO's like the ones we usually saw in k-drama's. we were so young and stupid.
Nyla and I were complete opposites, She was calm, reserved and composed, the kind of person that had her whole life planned out from high school. I on the other hand was outgoing, sociable and care free, but our diffrences only ever brought us closer.
The night everything changed still feels like yesterday.
We went to that club together.
I remember her saying she just wanted to forget all that had happened to her that month, to have fun for once. I should've stopped her when she decided to go drinking, but she looked so heartbroken. Her boyfriend had dumped her, she'd lost her job so she needed something to get her mind off it.
I never saw the man she spent the night with. She disappeared into the crowd, and I didn't find her until the next morning. I assumed she got bored and went home early. But when I got home and couldn't find her I knew something was wrong.
She showed up later that day, shaky and quiet, unusually quiet. I didn't ask. I just wrapped my arms around her hoping to ease her pain.
Weeks later, when she showed me the test, my whole body froze.
We sat on the bathroom floor in silence. Awaiting her response.
"This can't be real." She kept saying.
I wanted to tell her it would be fine, but even I didn't believe that.
For the first time since I'd known her, she geniuenly didn't know what to do
She was terrified, but had her mind set on keeping the baby of a man who she didn't know.
"I'll handle it," she said quietly. "Somehow."
And she tried.
She worked two jobs while pregnant, barely sleeping, always pretending she was okay.
I'd catch her sitting by the window late at night, rubbing her belly and whispering things I couldn't hear.
I offered to help her out, begged her to stop working and assured her we were in this together, but she was stubborn.
I guess my attempt at helping only pushed her farther.
When she told me she was leaving New York, I thought she was joking.
"You can't be serious," I told her. "You don't even have a plan."
"I'll figure it out, I just need to get out of here" she said.
"Then I'm coming with you."
"No, Leah. You have your life here. Don't throw it away because of me."
We argued for hours. I told her she didn't have to do this alone, but she wouldn't listen.
"I've already messed up my life," she said, her voice cracking. "I won't ruin yours too."
She hugged me goodbye the next morning, her hands shake and frail.
"you don't have to do this alone" I responded tears flowing freely down my cheeks
"I'll be fine leah" she replied giving off her fake smile. A smile she'd put on most of her life.
Then she walked away with a suitcase that looked too heavy for one person to carry.
I cried for days after she left.
Years passed, but we never lost touch.
At first, she'd call every few weeks, mostly to let me know she was still breathing. Never disclosing her location.
When Ryan was born, she sent me a photo.
I'd never seen her so happy. She had gotten her spark back and found a reason to keep moving on, her precious baby boy. She finally disclosed her location.
Whenever I could, I'd visit.
She shared an apartment with a friend she'd made over there, it was small, barely big enough for the three of them, but clean, always smelling faintly of baby lotion and coffee.
I'd spend hours staring at her baby wondering what life had in store for him.
She never asked for much. Sometimes I'd slip her a little cash, pretending it was for Ryan's toys or school supplies. She'd always protest, but she couldn't refuse me.
The young vibrant girl with wonderful dreams had become comfortable doing menier jobs just to keep her baby fed.
Watching her like that broke me. She deserved better, a whole lot better.
A few weeks ago, I saw the job posting at Reeds Corporation.
"Personal Assistant Needed."
Good pay, housing, benefits—the whole package.
My first thought was of her.
I knew she'd never apply on her own, especially since it was in New York, so I pulled a few strings.
An old college friend of mine works in HR there. I told her about Nyla, about how hardworking and devoted she was. The wanted someone who could work around the clock. I left out details about Ryan though not that it mattered.
When I forwarded the email to Nyla, I already knew she'd say no.
And when she saw the location, I was right.
"New York?" she texted. "Absolutely not."
It took everything I had to convince her. I used every reason I could think of to rope her in.
Finally, after consideration she said, "Send me the link again."
That was the first time in years I'd felt hope for her.
When she told me she confirmed the interview, I almost cried.
Then I became worried.
New York.
The same city she swore she'd never come back to.
The same city where it all began.
I don't know what happened between her and that man from that night—she never told me his name, and I never pushed. But I know whatever it was frightened her.
And now, fate was bringing her right back
The morning of her trip, I kept checking my phone .
When her message finally came
"I'm on my way."
I didn't know whether to be proud or terrified.
I spent the rest of the day at work pretending to focus while my mind replayed old memories.
Her crying on the bathroom floor.
Her walking away from me at the station. The day she left.
If anyone deserved a fresh start, it was Nyla.
I just hoped this time life would finally give her a break.
I picked her up from the train station and we hugged each other.
She remained extremely quiet during the ride home, as though a part of her still couldn't believe she was here.