No Desire to Return

The first few chapters switch perspective between the main female and male characters. I apologize if this is confusing to some readers. ------- With a broken heart, but a desire to not let her terrible ex-boyfriend dictate her life, Grace moves from the east coast to eastern Texas to start over. Little does she know that her entire life will be altered. -‐------------ Flash back "I never cared. You were just easy to manipulate and easy to control," said William to the sobbing mess in front of him. "You are nothing to me and I hope you vanish like the trash you are," he spat at her. Grace just hung her head and let him continue. 5 years of her life and countless memories playing like a movie in her head. She had been a fool to think that she deserved someone like him. A fool to believe that he would only have eyes for her. She had no tears left. They had all been spent. At some point she heard his car reverse out of her parent's drive. She continued to sit on the ground, not caring that she was becoming cold.... --------------- Present Day "Mom, I am fine. It is not like I am moving to a new country. Just a different state," Grace said as she returns from the check-in counter with her one-way ticket in hand. "Besides, I need this. I am a 24 year old college graduate with not 1 but 2 degrees!" she exclaimed, "I will be okay. I promise." Her mom gave her a big hug and whispered in a tear filled voice, "I know. I am just so proud of you. You have conquered a lot." Those words made Grace think back to the last 4 years of her life. Being dumped like trash in freshman year by her high school love. Barely passing her final exams. Building herself up slowly by meeting new people, participating in University photography contests, attending grad school, hosting several photography exhibitions, and finally landing a job with a design company in Houston, Texas. Those thoughts brought her back to the present. At an airport. Getting ready to head from BWI in Maryland to IAH in Texas. "Time for me to go. The bags are checked, I have my ticket, and I want to grab a snack before take off." Grace smiled at her mom, who had backed up to give her some space. Gave a quick hug to her father and started toward security. She turned one last time to wave to her parents and procees airport security. "Ugh," Grace thought, "I still hate talking to people." She hands her ticket and driver's license to the TSA agent, silently praying she doesn't have to engage in small talk. The TSA agency grunts and hands them back, motioning for her to keep moving. She quickly finishes the security check and goes to find her gate. The one lasting gift from her dear ex is anxiety about almost everything. Grace checks and double checks that she has found her gate and then proceeds to look for a place that sells bagels. "A fresh start. A full reset." Grace thought to herself while browsing the available options. She finds a little breakfast place that serves breakfast food and has bagels with multiple flavors of cream cheese. "Bingo!" Grace says to no one in particular. She waits in line, orders an everything bagel with onion cream cheese, and pays. Once her food is ready, she makes her way to her gate and finds a relatively empty area. Placing her purse down, she sits and unwraps her bagel. Eating slowly she is so focused on her food that she doesn't notice a man approaching...