It was of no surprise to Jeanie that Jacob was standing on her porch. She had hoped he would have waited until after her flight, but hopes rarely led to reality in her experience. Jeanie sighed heavily. Why must she carry the burden of whatever reasons he had come to unload? "I would have never taken you for someone who ghosted," Jacob smiled. Jeanie took it as a good sign that she wasn't affected by it. She saw he was leading with guilt. A strategic tactic that had worked far too many times in the past. She said nothing. He walked past her through the doorway.
"Come in? I guess.." she smirked. Jacob looked around the house.
"Going somewhere?" Had he always been this observant? Maybe the packed bags at the door led him to the deduction.
"Yes," she replied. He stepped toward her, she stepped back.
"What is going on? I heard from my mom that you're leaving the country," he said. "Do you really need to go as far as emigration to move on from us?  I mean, it seems a bit dramatic, Jeanie."
"Is that why you're here? My dramatics should no longer concern or bother you." Jacob took a few steps closer to her after her response.
"You're right, but it does, just the same," he whispered. He reached to push some hair from her face but she tilted away from his touch. " Why did we break up exactly? I can tell it isn't because the attraction has gone away," he leaned into her. She couldn't help herself, she laughed.
"For me? Oh, for you?" She widened her eyes. "I wish I could say that attraction was enough for me this evening, but I need to rest up to keep the jet lag away." He didn't know quite how to respond. He stood there rubbing a hand through his hair in half surprise, half curiosity.
"You haven't explained why we broke up." He did look a little lost at this point.
"You're right, and I won't be playing this game of Mad Libs with you. I'm tired of filling in the blanks for people, especially you." Jeanie replied. "Since you like games so much, let's see how close I am to being right. The only reason you're here right now is because you're bored. I know you're with Emily now. She was always voted the prettiest on campus in college. You have the envy of all of your friends..It looks like you've got it all..but it always feels like something is missing. Am I right?" Jeanie could see she had hit a nerve.  "You thought that after almost a year, I could help you figure it out?" She looked at Jacob with pity. "The Jacob I know, doesn't live here anymore." She placed her hand over her heart.
"I guess this is how you want to end it after all this time?" He began heading toward the door.
"Haven't you recognized it by now? There are no proper endings. Nothing in life is tidy." The two of them stood on the threshold together for a moment. "One last word of advice," she said with a smile. He nodded. "There is no last word," she replied and laughed. He smiled and she gently closed the door on Jacob.