[The excerpt below is from CHAPTER 5: BREAKFAST CLUB of the new Version of 'for June' + 'Dear Chad' combined. This is the moment June and Bax told Chad to stop visiting. Hope you'll like it.🤞]

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On the fourth morning, June sat alone on the bench, keeping an eye on Bax's trolley while he ran to the nearest public toilet when she spotted Chad headed her way with the widest smile on his face. She hated to think what would happen to that smile once she opened her mouth.

She rose as he came close. "What are you doing, Chad?"

"Bringing us breakfast?"

"There is no us, Chad. Why do you come every morning? Don't you have other things to do? You don't owe us anything. I forgive you if that's what you're waiting for."

It was the bluntest and the most honest thing she had ever said to him. She could tell it took him by surprise. He was not used to people being blunt.

"Most people don't look our way..." Her voice got smaller with each word.

"I wouldn't have come looking for you if someone hadn't told me to get out of my comfort zone," he said as honestly as she'd been. "I keep to myself, usually."

She looked at the path where Bax was shuffling along, head hung. "I've told him we need to say our goodbyes today."

"Did I do something wrong?" Chad asked.

The look of worry on his face made her insides squirm. Why was she breaking his heart? The kindest man she'd ever met except Bax. 

"You did nothing wrong, but we can't keep taking advantage of your kindness. Thank you for the past week, but we need to go our own ways." She sniffled against the cold.

"I don't understand." She watched Chad shift his weight. "Was it something I did? I only meant to help."

"And you did." She smiled.

Once Bax reached the two of them, June looked at the older man and tried to smile reassuringly, but it faltered.

"It was nice to meet you... Chad." She stumbled, trying to wick moisture from her eyes.

"My name is actually Chandra, but people call me Chad. It means the moon..." he blurted, staring at her feet.

"Perfect name for you... It was nice to meet you, Chandra." She reached up and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you for your generosity these past days, but Bax and I both feel you need to get back to your life. We know you mean well, and we appreciate it more than we can say. Bax even thinks we are friends, but we live here. For us, this is life, but it doesn't have to be for you. Go back to yours. You will not find whatever you're looking for with us, on these streets. We have loved the past days of breakfast and coffee with you but..." she trailed off.

She held up her hand for him to wait when he looked like he was about to cut in. "One day, maybe not tomorrow or the day after, or even a month from now, you'll go on with your life, and we will be waiting for you, not realising you're not coming anymore. And that's not fair to you..."

"You agree with this?" Chad looked at Bax, for support no doubt, but the poor man was staring at his feet, unable to make eye contact.

Bax cleared his throat, and June saw his tear-brimmed eyes stare at Chad. "It sucks, but she makes a good point. One day, eventually, you'll stop coming. It's inevitable... Life will get in the way... And we can't hold you responsible for ours. It's not your job, mate. It hurts to say goodbye, my friend, but it is time. This life is not for you."

"You're a good egg, Chad. Hope you get everything you wish for in life." Bax gave him a hug before turning around, wiping his tears on his sleeve, and wheeling away his life on a trolley.

June picked up her own belongings and stared after Bax, her eyes dancing with tears. She cleared her throat and gave Chad one last smile.

"Can I visit?" he asked suddenly.

She chuckled and shook her head. "No, because this is you visiting."

"Calling is out of the question then?"

A straggled laugh escaped her throat as tears rolled down her cheeks. She stood one last time on her tiptoes and gave him another kiss on the cheek, a kiss that lingered longer than either had expected, then she walked away, following in Bax's footsteps. "Have a wonderful life, Chad, for us."

Her heart broke into a million little pieces as she tried to imprint his face in her memories. One day, she knew she'd regret this, but it was for his own good. They were nothing more than two broken souls trying to survive.

"Goodbye, Chandra. Be good."