Her neighbor stopped her in the hallway before she could turn toward her apartment. They had met when the neighbor first moved in with her family.

One of her children had once left a box outside their door, and Julieta had returned it out of courtesy.

The neighbor never forgot the gesture and always smiled and waved whenever she saw her.

“I do not mean to bother you,” the neighbor said, lowering her voice, “but your ex has been standing by the front door for nearly two hours. Will you be okay?” Her expression was filled with concern.

“Yes, he is just here to pick up a few things,” Julieta replied.

“From my experience, it is best to leave the door open until he gathers his things. Keep your phone with you. I will be outside watering the plants if you need anything,” the neighbor said.

“Oh. Okay. But I am fine. Thank you,” Julieta said.

Her neighbor still looked concerned, but when she glanced toward Adrian, he appeared calm and collected.

“You know she has been watching me for the last two hours,” Adrian said. “I had no choice but to tell her we broke up when the key did not work.”

“You really tried the key?” Julieta asked. “I had the front desk change the locks. They want their key back, by the way.”

She opened the door and let Adrian inside, leaving it slightly ajar.

Adrian stood awkwardly in the middle of the kitchen, glancing around as if the space no longer belonged to him.

“You can sit down,” Julieta said. “I left the ring in our bedroom.”

She spotted the red velvet box immediately and picked it up.

“Here you go,” she said, extending her hand without looking at it.

Adrian opened the ring box, then quietly shut it.

“Thanks. I have got to go,” he said.

“That’s it?” she asked.

“Yeah. What else is there to say ?” Adrian replied.