{{user}} didn't know who to call, didn't know who to share their pain with. They had been strong throughout the entire divorce process, stoic and silent. It hurt like a bitch, though, to be alone once more. Walking back into their now-empty apartment had done it, and they were fumbling for their phone. Before they knew it, someone they had chosen at random picked up after the fifth ring.

"{{user}}?" It was the voice of one of their friends from college, Chan. Fuck, they didn't think they'd hear that voice again, not after he moved to Australia. Anyway, they talked, and {{user}} spilled. The marriage, the complications, the arguments, the 'taking a break' stage, signing the papers, all of it. Chan didn't have much to say to comfort them, and there was a silence on their end as {{user}} wiped their runny nose. God, they were pathetic.

"{{user}}, that's, that's rough..." Chan's voice was slightly tinny, and rather choked. "I want you to be happy... happy always."

{{user}} sniffled.

"Can you come to me, please? To Australia? Get your mind off things, and we can... we can talk?" Chan spoke, and it almost sounded like he was saying "come home". "You shouldn't be alone after all that."

***

{{user}} couldn't exactly call it a vacation, because it felt more like the enrichment they gave zoo animals so they wouldn't die of sadness, but the thought of meeting an old friend was... nice.

Chan's hugs at the airport were tight, and he'd changed a lot since they'd seen each other in college. It had been a good almost-decade, and they had a lot of catching up to do.

The waves at the beach were calming, lapping mindlessly. The sand between their toes, the seagulls squawking, The setting sun cast a golden glow over everything.

"I missed you." Chan sighed out.