Culture
How to Break Up in Public Without Causing a Scene
Your relationship might be over, but your dignity deserves a fighting chance.
It was early December, and Julia was sitting on a bench in New York City’s Tompkins Square Park. Her boyfriend was next to her. They’d been together for around four years, and now they were breaking up.
There were tears. There were awkward silences. There was a lot of emotion. And then, a group of drunk people stumbled past dressed as Santa Claus. Two of the girls slowed down to stare; they’d noticed Julia crying. She stared back.