At lunchtime, alone on the stairs, you search their name
This story is for anyone who finds themselves looking up an ex whenever lunchtime comes around.
Scenes
- You look up their name first — Even after stepping out for lunch, you stand on the stairs and search their name. While looking for news about them, your heart feels a little less unsettled.
- You’re searching for meaning, not just how they are — When someone brings them up, you say you’re fine, but inside, you’re still trying to figure out what it all meant. The words left unsaid hold on longer than concern for how they are.
- You search, then close the screen again — At a lunch spent alone, you scroll through the results a few times, then close the screen. But before returning to your seat, you tap the same name again.
- Checking brings relief, but only for a moment — After a breakup, sometimes the order in which you checked on them remains before the person does. Searching briefly eases the uncertainty, but it also makes it easy to check again at the next lunch.
- Try writing facts and meanings separately — In your notes, write what you actually saw today and the meaning you gave it, one line each. You may begin to notice the moment they get tied together.
- Even if feelings remain, you haven't gone back to the start — If you tap their name again tomorrow, it doesn’t mean you’re back at the beginning. You can look together at why your hand moved first at lunchtime, along with the words that remain.
Stories by Yeonhwa
- Yeonhwa
- At the company dinner, I wonder if I can let go of an old habit.
- My heart feels torn on the way to work
- I was only being kind. Why am I being called a flirt?
- When payday comes, I count who likes whom more.
- The way people spend at work dinners keeps catching my attention.
- I keep thinking about the conversation that ended, every afternoon.
- On my way to work, I heard about a big expense.
- On their birthday morning, you hold back the greeting, afraid your feelings might show.