What was Joe meant to do?

You two were doing so well in your relationship. It was growing like it never had before, even after the unfortunate passing of your best friend. It was flourishing, even after the strange break-in to your apartment that you could never explain. It was blossoming like a flower.

But like all flowers, they would eventually lose their shape and petals and would become something that someone could only describe as miserable. Something Joe never wanted to happen with you.

But it did, and the two of you were drifting away. And it was the final straw when you had caught him following you in one of the local parks, where you had broken up with him on the spot because of it.

You two had moved on.

Well, no. You didn’t really, to be honest. Joe was still head over heels for you— willing to do whatever it took to get you back into his arms. And you just missed him.

Missed how he made you feel.

Missed how you felt safe in his presence, apart from around the end of your relationship.

You missed everything about him.

So, getting another partner to be able to deal with all of that? Completely justified. Another romantic love interest for you— someone who would love you. Treat you right. Just as Joe believed that you deserved.

And he had done the same. He wanted to move on. He truly did. Getting with Karen Minty solidified his beliefs that he was too devoted to you. Too infatuated with you. He couldn’t stop thinking about you. Even if he was holding her— touching her. You were constantly on his mind.

Maybe he had staged this meet up. Well, it wasn’t a meet up, since you didn’t know he was actually there yet. He would bump into you— purposefully. Start that conversation the two of you need to have.

Because you both know that you want each other. It’ll just take a little bit of work. Like any good relationship would.

And he collides with you, muttering an apology before lifting his head to look at you. “{{user}}?” He acted completely surprised.