“Do you want to hear an interesting fact?” said Jo. “Eskimos apparently have over fifty different words for snow. Snow’s really important to those guys—I suppose it’s because sometimes the difference between one type and another can mean the difference between life or death.” She paused and laughed self-consciously. “You know they’ve got words for dry snow and wet snow, fluffy snow and compact snow. They’ve got words for snow that comes down fast and for snow that comes down slow—they’ve thought of everything.”

“That’s a lot of snow,” commented Rob as his eyes flicked to a scruffy-looking mongrel crossing the road in front of them, oblivious to the night bus hurtling towards it. It only narrowly missed being hit, but continued coolly on its journey to the bin outside the off-licence, which it sniffed studiously, then cocked a leg against.

“So, what’s your point?” asked Rob.

“Well, it’s like this,” replied Jo. “If Eskimos can come up with fifty words for snow because it’s a matter of life or death, why is it that we’ve only got one word for love?”

—Brand New Friend by Mike Gayle

“I can’t help but think that if we’d met years ago—before you found Ashley—we’d have been perfect together. I know I could’ve made you just as happy as she makes you now.” 

“But we didn’t meet first,” replied Rob, unable to look at her. “We met second. And even though I know I shouldn’t feel what I feel for you the fact remains that I love Ashley. I’ve never stopped loving her. Through all that’s happened it’s never occurred to me that she isn’t right for me—because she is.”

Jo reached up and touched his face. “I know,” she said, as tears formed once more in her eyes, “and that’s why it would never work between us. She owns your heart. What we have is special—I’ll always cherish it—but the difference between our love and the love you have for Ashley is like the difference between knowing something in your head and knowing it in your heart. In your head you think you love me because we see the world the same way, we feel the same things—in a way we’re almost like twins—but what you and Ashley have is much more special because it’s not about what you have in common, it’s about the way she makes you feel in your heart. And the heart wins every time. It’s how we’re built. And I’d never want it any other way.” Jo stood up and Rob did too, holding her hands.

“So this is where we say goodbye for good,” she said.

“Are you sure there’s no way round this?” asked Rob.

“No,” Jo said. “This really is goodbye. It’s for the best.” And then she placed a hand on either side of Rob’s face and kissed him again. Rob wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, unsure that he could ever let her go.

“See you in another lifetime,” she whispered. Then she turned and walked away.

—Brand New Friend by Mike Gayle