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“I’ll be fine,” I said, forcing a smile to reassure her. I didn’t want Leo to shoulder the blame for my pain; she’d already carried enough guilt.
I recalled the conversation I’d overheard between her and her mother, the anguish in her voice as
she wondered if she’d made a mistake by leaving me. I’d wanted to reassure her then, to lift that
burden.
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Leo,” I’d told her. “You deserved everything – love, attention,
partnership. I was the one who took it all for granted, every single day.” Now, as we sat together, I
saw the ghost of that guilt still lingering in her eyes.
“Really, Leo. I’ll be okay.” I reassured her and she nodded.
“I have something to tell you,” I said, my voice hesitant, unsure if it still mattered. But the words
had been simmering inside me, brought to the surface by weeks of therapy. Dr. Lee’s insightful questions had helped me confront my own demons, and this was one truth I needed to share. I took
a deep breath, meeting Leo’s curious‘ gaze.
“Sure,” she mumbled with encouragement, her soft tone inviting me to continue. Her eyes never
left mine, filled with a quiet understanding that gave me the courage to proceed, but also reminded
me that she didn’t have any feelings left that would make it harder to maintain eye contact.
“Even though six months ago you told me you forgave me, I realized I never actually apologized.” My words hung in the air, a long–overdue acknowledgment.
Leo’s expression shifted, a subtle blending of surprise and melancholy. She sighed, the soft sound speaking volumes of the pain and closure that had been lingering between us. Her eyes dropped, her gaze drifting inward as if revisiting memories, before returning to meet mine once more.
I leaned a little close my eyes locking onto hers with unwavering sincerity. I exhaled deeply, the weight of my regret settling in.
“I am sorry, Leo,” I began, my voice laced with remorse. “For turning away and abandoning you when things get messy. For not being the husband and partner I should’ve been. For making you feel insecure, for not comforting you when you needed me the most.” My words poured out.
“For not communicating, for not respecting you. For losing sight of what we had, for bringing someone into our lives who could have hurt you and Willy.” Each apology hung in the air, a heartfelt acknowledgment of my failures. Leo’s gaze held mine, her expression softening to pity, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
My voice cracked as I struggled to utter the words.
“And most of all, I am sorry for…” I paused, taking a deep, ragged breath before forcing out the truth. “…for betraying you in the worst way possible.” The words felt like acid on my tongue, but I
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needed to say them, to own my failures.
“I am sorry for hurting and breaking you so badly.” The apology poured from the depths of my soul, every ounce of sincerity and regret distilled into those words. Leo’s eyes never wavered, her gaze holding mine with a quiet intensity. For a moment, she simply looked at me, her expression flowing with pain and understanding. Then, she nodded, a small, sorrowful smile on her lips, acknowledging my apology and the anguish that had driven me to speak it.
“I’ve forgiven you a long time ago Wilson, but thank you for this. Most of the people don’t acknowledge or accept their mistakes.” She noted.
“I am glad you’re doing well,” she continued her voice tinged with genuine warmth, “and I wish
you nothing but happiness.”
With those words, she slid out of the booth, her movements elegant and deliberate. As she stood, our eyes met once more, a silent understanding passing between us. The apology, though late, had been sincere, and perhaps, just perhaps, it had brought a measure of closure. Leo’s gaze lingered on mine for a small moment before she turned to leave, her departure marking the end of a chapter, and the beginning of a new path, one where we could coexist, not as husband and wife, but as parents and two people who had once shared a chapter of life.
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