Despite his ominous ultimatum, we ended up not talking at all during the workday. Markus' arrival interrupted the pending conversation, and it left me hanging with a 'We need to talk' that lasted until dinner time.

Daniel spent most of the day in meetings with Lukas and, just before the commuter rush, I received a text asking me to meet him directly at home.

So, when he sat me down on the sofa that night, despite our dinner getting cold on the table, I knew that the 'We need to talk' forewarning was about to hit me like a sandstorm in the desert.

Daniel's face was impenetrable. He held my hands in his for the longest of time. His head hanged low as if he tried to muster courage to tell me the most dreadful news I could expect. And then he did.

"New York?" I say in the softest of tones, still trying to puzzle the pieces together.

"Yeah," he responds, his head hanging low once again and his hands squeezing each other with contrition.

"For how long?"

"The contract is for 3 years."

I get up and pace. "3 years? That is... long." How did this happen?

"That was as long as it took Lukas to set up things here..."

"Yes, but you're not the founder of the company and this is not your business..."

I look up at Daniel and see in his face there's something more.

"Lukas offered me a share of the business."

"But I thought the investor would get a share..."

"They will. And, if I say yes. So will I."

I turn my back to him. How is this happening? My head swirls with the morning events.

"If you say yes. Is there a possibility you will say no?" I ask.

Daniel stays silent. I turn around and he is now up. His hands are inside his trousers and his head hangs low.

"This is a once in a lifetime opportunity." He looks up at me. "We can make it work. We can plan this and book tickets in advance. I can come one weekend every month."

"One weekend every month?"

"And you can do the same."

I shake my head. This is feeling like a new Harry in my life. When I can, I will see you. When possible, I will get to you. I'll be there if I can make it. I know how this story goes.

"Maybe you could come with me?" his voice trembles with the question.

"Maybe you could stay back." I respond and look at Daniel angrily.

I feel angry with him, but mostly with myself.

"Please don't ask me that," he says. "I can provide for my parents."

"Provide for your parents?"

Daniel circles around himself like a dog chasing his own tail before deciding to walk to the kitchenette and leaning on the counter. He rubs his hands over his hair and gathers his thoughts. He inhales deeply and turns around back to me.

"My brother was the one that used to care for them. I was the fantasy kid with his brushes and canvas. When he died, there was a queue of debt collectors at our door. Lukas was opening his business, and he gave me this opportunity. I've been providing for the family since then."

"But your parents own this building..."

Daniels shakes his head. "They own it now. One year ago. When I finally cleared the second mortgage my brother took to build this place for them. We grew up in a tiny rented apartment. His dream was that one day we would always live together in this house. A building with three apartments. But, his illness was unexpected and prolonged. And, the debt we already had and accrued... it took a toll. So, I stepped in."

I hug Daniel, who embraces me back and leaves kisses on my head.

"I can't come to New York..." I whisper.

"I know..." he responds and I feel his arms holding me as tightly as he can.

"Daniel..." he embraces me harder. "Daniel."

"Please don't say it."

We stay in the embrace for a brief long period.

"We will make it work. We will," he pleads.

The email from this morning still haunts me and my mother's words ring truer than before. How can I not let him go? How can I not allow my chance of pursuing my dreams?

"I can't. This is not the first time I have done this. I can't go through this again," I finally say and release myself from his embrace.

"I'm not Harry."

"I know. And, I have hurt with Harry. I can only imagine how broken I'll be when it's with you. And that is why I can't. I'm afraid I will never recover." I blurt out.

Daniel leans on the counter and stares at me. "I just got you."

I lower my head to the ground and try to prevent the tears from flooding my eyes.

"I'm meant to go back to London, anyway. My internship is almost over. So, New York or not, this would always end." I say the words and feel a sting in my heart with each syllable.  

"You don't mean that." Daniel rebuts.

Of course, I don't. But we're both moving towards an unavoidable conclusion.

I look up at him, barely controlling my emotions. "I got the email today. My internship is ending and I need to organise the exit interviews and get my report ready."

"Lukas will offer you a job."

His words surprise me.

"And, in a few months, you can transfer to New York..."

I shake my head. "I can't do that..."

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to do marketing. That's not my dream."

"Dreams don't pay bills."

And there it was. Again. I feel a surge of anger coursing through my veins.

"I'm going to make it. Or, at least I'm going to try."

He puts his hands again inside his trousers defensively. "You can try. But it is almost impossible to succeed. Do you even know the odds of making it as a successful writer?"

My heart sinks deep inside my chest.

"It may be impossible. But I rather try to fail than hide my talent and just give it up."

"What does that mean?" Daniel roars.

I know I've hit a nerve. And I meant it.

"You know very well what I mean. Your painting?"

"I just told you..."

I raise my hand. "I know. And, I can't imagine what it was like, but I also don't see how one thing stops the other."

"Because it's a foolish dream!" Daniel raises his voice and paces away towards the narrow corridor. "Why can't you let this go?"

"Do you think my writing is a foolish dream?" I match my pitch to his in volume.

Daniel looks at me aggravated but doesn't respond to my question.

"Daniel? Do you think my writing is foolish?" I repeat my question.

"Yes!" he screams.

I stand still at his words. I can see in his face that he regrets his candour immediately. Daniel takes two steps towards me, but I take three steps back.

"How can we possibly continue this?" I say, unable to stop the tears from flooding my face.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean..."

"But, you did..." I counter argue and wipe away my tears.

Daniel takes another two steps closer to me, but I take another four away, almost reaching to the door.

"Don't do this..." he pleads.

"We shouldn't have started something we can't finish. We were both foolish."

"I love you, Natalie," he whispers from afar. "I love you so much. But I can't tell you something that I don't believe... I can't tell you to dream when I can't see this dream."

"And I can't afford to let go of my dreams, even if they seem impossible from where we stand."

"So, where do we go from here?" he asks softly.

"I can't think of not seeing you, or talking to you ever again. Not have you in my life... You are my best friend first and my lover second, Daniel. And, I would like to preserve that. If possible..."

"Go back to just friends?" Daniel asks, looking at me, but I know this is a question to himself. "After everything that has happened between us?"

I shrug. "We can try. I guess... I don't know."

I look around the apartment that has been home for the last three months and to the man that has been in my heart from the moment he bought me lunch in the cafeteria on my first day in the office.

"I rather have you in my life as friend then not having you at all." I say. "But I leave that to you. For now, I think we need space from each other. I'll move back down tonight and tomorrow find a place for the last two weeks I'm here..."

"You don't have to go..."

"We both know I do..." I reply before opening the door for apartment 2A for the last time.