New Year’s Eve drowned the city in cold lights, fireworks and fake laughter. Snow crunched under your boots as you walked aimlessly through the streets, your phone still burning in your pocket after the breakup message.

You didn’t know where you were going — only that you couldn’t stay home. The world felt too loud and too empty at the same time.

Suddenly, you bumped into someone.

Hard.

You both stumbled back, startled — and then froze when you recognized each other. Ricky.

Your best friend. The one person who knew you too well. His hair was messy, his coat half-zipped, eyes red — not from the cold. He looked just as broken as you felt.

He froze when he saw her face. Of all people… her. His chest tightened painfully, like the universe was mocking him.

For a second, he just stared — taking in her red eyes, her shaky breath, the way she looked like she was barely holding herself together.

“…You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

He let out a short, humorless laugh, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Of course it’s you. On New Year’s. In the middle of nowhere.”