Kanye and Karol have been friends since the beginning of high school. In college, the two became a couple and have been inseparable since. As senior year ends, it's time to start becoming adults — he's working on a finance degree while interning at MP Enterprises, she's focusing on media studies along with her own radio show on campus.
Although the two love each other, they feel each other drifting apart, but never address it. She begins looking for positions outside the state, itching to relocate. One afternoon, she gets a call from a random number — an offer to interview as a co-host for a radio station out in Chicago. Excited and hesitant, she accepts the invitation without telling Kanye yet.
The interview goes great and the station wants her on the team next month. He's excited for her until she reveals the location — hiding his emotions, he tells her to go for it. That weekend she decides, and calls the station Monday to accept — they want her to start in two weeks. Telling Kanye that night, he's confused and angry, thinking he had more time. The argument spirals into the recent feeling of drifting apart, and gets heated enough to suggest breaking up. In the moment, they both agree.
Damn.
They don't talk until the following week, when she checks in to say she's found a place out there. All in-between is sad shit — her packing, him looking at old pictures. Thursday, her last week, he picks her up and takes her downtown: the observation deck (her favorite spot), then a bar called Saturn, karaoke, a photo booth, kissing. Driving her home, hitting a red light, Kanye starts to cry — "I wish you weren't leaving." "Me too, me too." They kiss, they hug, that's that.
Her first day is Monday at 5:30 a.m. and he's tuned in. The following weeks are awkward but they talk. One weekend he surprises her; the second night they sleep together, but she tells him it doesn't mean they're together — it's not the right time, they need space. He leaves on bad terms. They drift apart again, not talking for months — he gets a full-time position at MP, she builds her blog and brand. He still listens to her every morning; she still reads every post.
One night, driving home from drinks with friends, a song reminds him of Karol and he calls — she doesn't pick up, but he leaves a voicemail apologizing for calling, hoping she's doing well. She listens to it in the middle of the night, wants to call back, knows it'll do more harm than good, and cries herself to sleep.
The holidays come and she calls him — they meet up, catch up, and the night goes well until he takes her home and tells her he can't do this. The year's ending; he thinks it's best to leave it all behind — once New Year's hits, they should completely lose contact and have a fresh start. Hurt but understanding, they say goodbye and officially part ways.
Years pass. He's rising up the corporate ladder; she's killing it on the station. Though they haven't spoken in so long, Kanye still starts his mornings listening to her, and she still keeps the photo-booth pictures beside her bed. One day at the office, the board offers him a CEO position — the catch is he'd have to relocate to Chicago. Without hesitation, he accepts.
He packs his things, waits until 5:30 a.m. to start the drive, catching Karol's show right before he leaves.
