Chapter 15

My mouth opens and closes, my brain struggling to process the sight before me. My eyes darted between him and the tray in his hands, my thoughts racing. I can't seem to form a coherent thought, my emotions running wild.

“What happened to the staff?” I looked at him suspiciously,

“Well, I figured, I should bring this to you instead.” He says lifting the tray as the aroma hits my nose.

“What is it that you want from me, Auden?” I sighed, with no expression on my face.

“C'mon, Char-”

“Don't call me that. Only people close to me address me by that name. And from the look of things we're not.” I snapped, I was supposed to be angry, but what can I do? I was stuck here for the next two days with him and it's crazy, cause I'm slowly losing it.

From his outfit, it seemed he had just arrived,

He was wearing a crisp white button-down shirt and a deep blue tie around his neck. The shirt is wrinkled like he's been wearing it for a while.

I notice a small stain on the cuff of his sleeve, a fleck of something dark and unidentifiable. I wonder how long he's been here, how long he's been waiting.

I look at the tray he's carrying, noticing that the food is still warm, that it must have been delivered recently. I felt a twinge of curiosity, wondering how he knew where I was staying.

“So can I come in now?” He asked, tired from holding on for too long.

My gaze was all over him as I hesitated a little before saying,

“Sure. Do come in”. I said to him lightly.

He takes a step into the room, the tray balanced carefully in his hands.

I can't help but notice the way he walks, his movements are slow and steady. He's always been the steady one, the calm in the storm. It's a trait I'd once found reassuring, but now it just feels strange.

I don't know what to do with him here, with this unexpected intrusion into my life. I don't know if I should be angry or grateful if I should be suspicious or relieved. All I know is that my heart is pounding, my emotions running wild.

He sets the tray down on the small table next to the door, his movements careful and precise. He turns to face me, his expression unreadable.

"I don't know if you'll want to hear what I have to say," he says, his voice soft and hesitant.

"But I need to say it anyway." I look at him, my curiosity getting the better of me. I motion for him to continue, my breath caught in my throat. He takes a deep breath, his eyes searching mine.

"I just want to say that I'm sorry," he says, his voice barely above a whisper.

I can't help but scoff, the words sounding so inadequate.

Sorry? Sorry for what? For leaving me? For breaking my heart? For making me feel like I was never enough?

Sorry, don't even begin to cover it. I want to tell him that sorry doesn't fix anything and that it doesn't erase the pain he caused. But I can't find the words, my anger and hurt are too great to put into words.

So I just stood there, my body tense, my hands balled into fists.

He looks at me, his expression unreadable.

"I know it's not enough," he says, his voice full of remorse.

"But I need you to know that mom never meant to hurt you. I never meant to leave you. I just..." He trails off, his words seeming to fail him.

"I know you think I was too weak to stand up to them," he says, his voice full of regret.

"I know I should have done more, that I should have protected you. But I was scared too, scared of losing them, of being alone. I know it's not an excuse, but I hope you can understand." I look at him, trying to understand where he's coming from.

I remember how cruel his family was to me, how they made me feel like I didn't belong. I remember the pain I felt, the loneliness that threatened to consume me.

He continued, "I'm not asking you to forgive me," he says, his words tumbling out in a rush.

"I just want you to know that I never stopped loving you. Even when I left, even when I made mistakes, even when I hurt you. I never stopped loving you." I feel my eyes welling up with tears, my heart aching with a mixture of sadness and love.

I remember the way we were, the happiness we shared, the way he made me feel like I was the only person in the world. I remember the way he loved me, with a fierceness that I've never experienced.

He sighs,

"I appreciate your honesty," I say, my voice shaking.

"But I have moved on. I have a life now, a life that I love. I can't go back to what we had." He looks at me, his eyes full of sadness, but there's also a glimmer of acceptance. "I understand," he says, his voice breaking.

“We are here for business and I think we should stick to that,” I said looking straight into his eyes, without batting it.

“I wish you all the best though.” He says taking out his hand for a handshake,

I reach out to shake his hand, but something stops me. I look at him, at the man who broke my heart, and I'm not sure what to do.

I know that I should let go of the past, that I should move on. But there's a part of me that can't let go, that still feels the pain of his betrayal. I look into his eyes, trying to decide what to do. I feel my hand hovering in the air, caught between the past and the present.

Then, something unexpected happens. He reaches out and takes my hand, not in a handshake, but in a gentle embrace. He holds my hand in his, his touch warm and comforting.

Snapping out of it, I quickly broke the embrace, looking at him,

"Thank you for coming to see me," I say, my voice steady.

"But it's time for you to go." He nods, his eyes full of understanding.

"I know," he says, his voice full of acceptance. And with that, he turns to walk away.

As he turned to go, I caught a glimpse of someone standing in the shadows. I squint, trying to make out the figure, and I realise it is Arthur.

Auden froze for a minute as he looked at Arthur then back at me, before walking away,

“Okay, now this was awkward,” I said to myself.