"Moving on is easy. It's staying moved on that's trickier."
― Katerina Stoykova Klemer.

Chloe's POV.

"Thank you so much! You made our day extra special," Lisa says hugging me while trying not to ruin her wedding dress.

"I didn't have to do a thing, you were picture-perfect," I say smiling as I pack my camera equipment. Being a photographer, it was a pleasure to be able to capture someone's most memorable moments.

I look around to check for anything I probably missed packing before grabbing my bags and looking around the beautifully decorated ranch. One of the most perfect weddings I've ever captured, though wedding photography wasn't my main field, I did it occasionally.

"Here you go," Daniel, my photography partner and friend says holding a camera lens that I missed packing. "Shit, thank you!"

I swear, realizing how I almost lost an expensive lens, "So want to grab some dinner?"

Daniel asks as he neatly placed the lens inside my bag before looking up with an award-winning smile, "I'm tired, I'll just go home and order in,"

Giving him an apologizing smile, we start walking out of the ranch while he chuckles before speaking up, "Okay then, meet you at the studio tomorrow,"

He says with disappointment lacing in his voice, "We could grab breakfast tomorrow, now stop being fussy about it," I smile gently slapping his arm in an attempt to lighten up the mood.

It's almost like a tradition for us to go out for drinks or just food after any successful photoshoot, childish but it's sweet, "Okay then,"

Daniel's face finally lightens up with a grin, I guess he's been that person who's always tried lightening up my mood especially ever since Zach walked away two years ago. A sigh escapes my lips as I reach my car and shake my head in an attempt to let go of his thoughts.

"Good night Dan," placing my bags into the rear seat of my car, I turn around to look at Dan who's busy on his phone.

"Good night, Chloe," he says finally looking up before walking away in the direction of his car. I walk up to the driver's seat and get into my car, shutting the door before letting out the breath I didn't realize I was holding. This is what even the thought of Zach does to me.

I look out of the windshield, staring out into the darkness in the sky, "He doesn't deserve you, Chloe,"

Telling myself that out loud was just a way to try make me forget how he left me hanging, but deep down, I didn't believe in what I was trying to convince myself. Calming myself down, I grab the bottle of water and drink it down to hydrate myself.

I drive out of the driveway before hitting the silent road of Colorado, this was bliss to drive without annoying traffic. Humming to the low music playing in the background, I smile as the cool air hits my skin. This was life for me, just peaceful without any drama.

I get off the car as I reach my small cottage house and open the gates before driving in again. Stopping the car once again, I get off to close the gates sighing. This is that one annoying thing but again it is my home sweet home.

Parking my car in its usual place, I sigh opening the door for the third time before hopping out feeling the tiredness wash over me. Grabbing my phone and just a few more things, I walk up to the porch of my house and unlock the tall wooden door. The damn vintage that I fell for when I bought this house.

Walking in, a smile makes its way to my face as I look at my cozy home, coming back to this every day felt the best. Snowy, my golden retriever pounces onto me making me laugh, stumbling back a few steps.

"Hey they, fella," I ruffle his fur as he licks my face making me cringe and laugh. He's been my best buddy and family to come back home to, at least I can assure him not leaving.

I walk right into the living room and drop my bag on the couch, one hell of a tiring day this was. Snowy follows me into the kitchen making me smile, damn how I love him. Grabbing the box of his food, I refill his now empty bowl making him wag his tail in happiness.

Walking up to the refrigerator to grab a water bottle, my eyes land upon the envelope that I attached to its door by a magnet. The letter that stayed just there for the past two years and the thing I dreaded the most to even open. I thought moving from my old apartment would help get over my memories with him but spending ten out of twenty-seven years of our lives together, I don't think I can be as mechanical as him.

A chuckle escapes my lips as my eyes wander onto the few pictures of us that were attached right around the letter. That is the only thing I miss in life, the happiness that Zach made me feel. I wish he at least gave me a reason, just anything or maybe he did, in that letter which I chose not to open. Shaking my head, I open the door and grab a bottle of water.

I then grab the box of hot pockets and place then on the kitchen counter before heading to my bedroom. I turn on the lights and notice Snowy still devouring his food before closing the door.

Stripping out of my blue jeans and sap green cotton shirt, I walk into the shower. I turn on the shower and let out a shaky breath as the warm water hit my skin, pouring a good amount of cinnamon-scented shampoo, I lather my hair. My muscles relax as I could feel the exhaustion take over my body.

Washing away every last bit of soap off my body, I turn off the shower and step out grabbing my bathrobe and a towel from the dry area shelves. I walk directly out of my room, throwing my clothes into the laundry bin in the process and head straight to the kitchen. Hungry is an understatement.

Placing a plate of two hot pockets in the microwave, I grab a bottle of wine before pouring myself a glass while Snowy tails me around the kitchen with enthusiasm. I hated leaving him alone at home the entire day but I don't have another choice, at least until Mrs. James is back from her vacation. She's a lovely woman who just loves dogs so much, that she now had a day-care for them.

Walking back quickly into my room and then my small walk-in closet. I grab a cotton white t-shirt that dropped down to my thighs and underwear. Quickly putting the clothes, I end up looking at myself in the mirror. The dark circles under my eyes pretty evident from my busy week and my chubby cheeks looking almost flat.

I wasn't the prettiest but was never even insecure about how I looked, I guess that's something I'm very proud of. But also that's something Zach taught me, to love myself. So where does that leave me? In a love-hate relationship with the guy who never bothered to look back or reply to the million messages I left.

Hearing the sound of my microwave, I walk back into the kitchen and grab the plate of the amazing hot pockets and my glass of wine before heading to the living room. A little TV wouldn't hurt.

Snowy climbs up the couch and settles down next to me making me smile while I switch through the channels. Grey's anatomy, damn as much as I hate how all my favorite characters are leaving, I just can't stop watching it.

A moan leaves my lips as I bite into the heavenly tasting hot pockets. Damn, there were the best. I look at the time and notice it's only eight a clock and sigh, isn't that too damn early to fall asleep? It sure is.

~•~•~•

"Daniel, where the fuck are you?! I've been waiting at the bistro for forty-five minutes now!" I whisper shout over the phone feeling impatient. I've been working with him for four years now but never did he show up on time and he knows I'm pissed when I call him with his full name.

"I'm sorry! I'll be there in fifteen," he hangs up making me roll my eyes with annoyance.

"Hey!" I hear a high pitched familiar voice and snap my head to look at Anise, oh no. She's Zach's ex-girlfriend, the one he broke up with before he decided on showing his life a fucking middle finger. Ever since then, I come across her in this oh so small city. Yeah so small that I end up stumbling by every one of my ex-best friends, ex-girlfriends. Look at the irony of the situation though.

"Hey, how are you?" I try matching her excitement but nope, she's a cheery person but actually very nice at the same time while I am, just me.

"I've been good, so how's life treating you?" she asks me as she takes the seat Daniel was supposed to occupy by now, thanks to him for putting me in this situation.

"Well life's been pretty good for me and what about you?" I sip on my espresso while I close my laptop.

She quickly types off on her phone before looking at me again, "Everything's great and I've got my birthday party coming up. You're invited!" she grins with excitement. Apart from the mess Zach left behind, everyone moved on and he got fucking lucky with how Anise moved on cause otherwise, I'm sure her dad would be at his throat by now.

"Thanks for the invitation and I'll try making it," I lie knowing that I obviously wouldn't show up for it.

She stands up as a car arrives in front of the bistro, "That's my ride, I'll text you the details. Bye!"

"Bye." She rushes out and I sigh as Dan finally shows up with his eyebrows raised. He knew her cause he knew Zach as well, "Something interesting?"

"Eh, just crossed paths and she invited me for her birthday party," I shrug it off, guzzling down my now warm espresso in one shot.

"It's interesting how that asshole fucked so many women and just left you to deal with them," I chuckle at Dan's reference to Zach.

The waitress places a tray of two blueberry muffins and Dan's coffee, "Let's not talk about him," I mumble looking out the window. He's not worth it. Oh, how I wish my heart let me believe it, I would probably let him just walk in if he showed up out of nowhere and forgive him for everything.

"So how's Eli?" I ask Dan who's busy diving into the muffin as I grab mine. He smiles at the mention of his boyfriend, "He's great, we three should hang out sometime! It's been so long since we last did,"

I nod with a smile of my own as I bite into the familiar tasting muffin. My jaw drops as someone walks up to us and stands next to our table, "Hey,"

~•~•~•