The summer began with a lie.

Emma Rose told everyone she was happy.

She smiled at breakfast.

She laughed with her friends.

She went to work every morning.

And every evening, she sat alone on the balcony of her small apartment, watching the sunset disappear behind the city buildings.

Nobody knew that she was counting the days until she left.

Seven days.

That was all she had.

Seven days before she moved to another city and started a completely new life.

Emma had always believed leaving was easier than staying.

Staying meant memories.

Leaving meant freedom.

At least, that was what she told herself.

On Monday morning, she packed her final box.

Books.

Photographs.

Old clothes.

A small music box her grandmother had given her.

She placed everything near the door.

Then her phone rang.

“Emma!”

She smiled when she heard her best friend Mia’s voice.

“Good morning.”

“Don’t tell me you’re still packing.”

“I’m almost finished.”

“You’re leaving in seven days and you’re acting like you’re moving tomorrow.”

Emma laughed.

“I want everything ready.”

Mia became quiet.

“You really aren’t changing your mind?”

“No.”

“Even after everything?”

Emma looked toward the window.

“Especially after everything.”

Mia sighed.

“Fine. But tonight you’re coming out with me.”

“Where?”

“A rooftop party.”

Emma immediately shook her head.

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I hate parties.”

“You hate everything.”

“Not everything.”

“What don’t you hate?”

Emma thought for a moment.

“Books.”

“That’s why you’re single.”

Emma laughed.

“Goodbye, Mia.”

“Eight o’clock.”

The call ended.

Emma smiled.

For the first time that morning, she felt a little lighter.

She didn’t know that the rooftop party would change everything.

---

At eight that evening, Emma stood outside the tallest hotel in the city.

Music echoed from the rooftop.

Lights filled the sky.

People were laughing.

Mia appeared beside her.

“You came!”

“I was forced.”

“Same thing.”

They entered.

Emma immediately regretted it.

She hated crowds.

She hated loud music.

She hated pretending to enjoy herself.

She was about to leave when someone bumped into her.

Her drink fell.

“Oh, I’m sorry!”

Emma looked down at her dress.

A large stain spread across the white fabric.

The stranger froze.

“I’m so sorry.”

Emma looked up.

And stopped.

He was tall.

Dark-haired.

Wearing a black suit without a tie.

His expression was genuinely apologetic.

“Are you okay?”

Emma stared at him.

“Do I look okay?”

He looked at her dress.

“Not particularly.”

She almost laughed.

“At least you’re honest.”

He smiled.

“I’m Ethan.”

“Emma.”

“Emma.”

He said her name slowly.

As if memorizing it.

“I’ll replace the dress.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because it was an accident.”

“I still ruined it.”

Emma looked at him.

“Then buy me coffee.”

He smiled.

“Deal.”

Mia watched from a distance with a huge grin.

Emma ignored her.

Ethan gestured toward the elevator.

“Coffee?”

“Now?”

“You asked for it.”

She smiled.

“Fine.”

---

The rooftop café was quieter.

Emma and Ethan sat near the edge.

Below them, the city glittered.

Ethan placed two coffees on the table.

“So, Emma.”

“So, Ethan.”

“Why do you look like you want to escape?”

She looked surprised.

“Do I?”

“Yes.”

“Maybe I don’t like parties.”

“Maybe?”

She smiled.

“Definitely.”

He leaned back.

“Then why did you come?”

“My friend forced me.”

“Good friend.”

“Terrible friend.”

They laughed.

For the next hour, they talked.

About books.

Movies.

Travel.

Dreams.

Childhood.

Ethan told her he wanted to build something meaningful with his life.

Emma told him she wanted to disappear somewhere nobody knew her name.

He looked at her.

“Why?”

She looked away.

“Sometimes people need a fresh start.”

“Running away isn’t always a fresh start.”

She frowned.

“You don’t know me.”

“You’re right.”

He smiled.

“But I’d like to.”

Her heart skipped.

She didn’t understand why.

She had met him less than two hours ago.

Yet talking to him felt easy.

Comfortable.

Dangerously comfortable.

Then Ethan asked the question that changed the mood.

“When are you leaving?”

Emma froze.

“How did you know?”

“You talk like someone who has already said goodbye.”

She looked at him.

“Seven days.”

“Where?”

“Somewhere far away.”

“Will you come back?”

Emma smiled sadly.

“I don’t think so.”

Ethan looked toward the city.

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Why?”

“Because I was hoping to see you again.”

Emma looked at him.

“You barely know me.”

“I know.”

“Then why?”

He smiled.

“Because sometimes you meet someone and you don’t need years to know that you want more time.”

Emma’s heart began beating faster.

She looked down at her coffee.

She didn’t want this.

She didn’t want another reason to stay.

She had already made her decision.

She was leaving.

She had to leave.

---

The next morning, Emma found a small paper bag outside her apartment.

Inside was a new white dress.

And a note.

For the girl whose first night in my life deserved a better ending.

Emma smiled.

Then she read the second line.

Coffee tomorrow?

She stared at the note for a long time.

She should say no.

She should pack.

She should leave.

Instead, she picked up her phone.

Her fingers hovered over the screen.

Finally, she typed:

Tomorrow. Seven o’clock.

A reply arrived almost immediately.

I’ll be there.

Emma smiled.

She didn’t know it yet.

But the seven days she thought would be the end of her old life…

Were about to become the beginning of her greatest love story.

And Ethan?

He had no idea that the girl he had met at a rooftop party would become the one person he would spend the rest of his life trying not to lose.

To be continued…