He Made Every Choice for Twenty Years Then I Chose Divorce Chapter 07

He Made Every Choice for Twenty Years Then I Chose Divorce Chapter 07

Ethan was relentless. He camped outside my apartment for days.

Every morning, a giant bouquet of red roses appeared at my door. On the sixth evening, someone, knocked. I opened it, already annoyed, expecting him-but it was Maya.

She looked thinner than him, her usually neat hair thrown into a messy ponytail. When she saw me, her lips twitched, half a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

She didn’t ask to come in, and I didn’t offer. We stood in silence for a long time. Finally she handed me a paper bag. “Your mom asked me to bring this.”

I took it and said thanks. Her eyes reddened. “I’m sorry, Celia. I swore I’d have your back—and I ended up being the one who hurt you.” Her voice cracked.

My own eyes stung. We’d been friends since twelve-cuddled under the same blanket, whispering

secrets. She’d said we’d be holding hands at eighty, shopping together.

She wiped her eyes, unable to look at me. “I didn’t plan to steal him. I’ve liked Ethan longer than I’ll admit—but he was yours, so I never said it. I lied to myself for years, told myself I was helping you.

But I’m just a coward and a liar.”

She stared at the floor, tears dripping. “I’m not here for forgiveness. I just wanted to say sorry. And

Célia-you shouldn’t have been friends with me. I…”

She hugged me suddenly, sobbing against my ear, “Don’t forgive me. Live a hundred times better

than me.”

My throat closed. I dug my nails into my palm. She pulled back, forced a smile, and ran down the

stairs. I stood at the window and watched her leave the building.

Ethan was by the flower bed, holding a bouquet of roses. He saw Maya. Maya saw him. They stood a few paces apart, neither moving. Then the two who’d once laughed and shoved each other passed by

without a single word.