Fredric’s throat tightened as he slumped into the chair.
So this…was what it felt like to lose someone.”
It hit harder than any business failure.8
He shut his eyes. One thought ran through his head was only, “I have to find her.”
He woke from a nightmare,drenched in cold sweat,his chest aching like something had been ripped out.
It took a long time for him to stand.
He stared blankly out the floor–to–ceiling window at the night sky.
He didn’t want to go home.
Every corner of the house reminded him of her. But now that warmth only brought emptiness and dread.”
When he got to the elevator,he saw Deana curled up on the couch by reception,hugging her knees,
The light caught her face,making her usual soft expression look even more pitiful.
“Fredric,“she stood and rushed over,eyes watery,voice trembling like it might shatter.“Are you treating me like this because of Brittany?Did she say something?”
His brows furrowed deeper
He didn’t want to face Deana at that moment,since her presence only made his mind more chaotic.
“Deana,” he took a breath,voice low and strained, “You’re overthinking. The truth is, I’ve never seen you as anything more than a friend. Whatever we had,it’s over.”
Deana froze,her eyes instantly welling up as she asked, “Over?Fredric,how can you say that?“”
“I was there when you needed someone most. You said you liked me. You even put that bracelet on me yourself,don’t you remember?“S
Her words stabbed at his brain, forcing old memories to resurface.
Yes,he’d liked Deana once.
She was bold,radiant,full of life.Back then,he thought that was love.&
But now?
Now it was just a faded teenage dream.
“That was a long time ago, he said hoarsely. “I’m not that 19–year–old kid anymore. I’ve been married to Brittany for five years.“” “But she’s leaving you now, isn’t she? Deana bit her lip,tears spilling down her cheeks.
She stepped closer. She doesn’t want you. Why can’t we start over?“”
She suddenly threw her arms around him,her slender body pressing gently against his chest.
His heart clenched.&
But he didn’t hug her back.
Instead,he slowly,firmly pushed her away.“Deana,don’t. There’s no going back for us.”
He turned his back to her like he couldn’t bear to meet her eyes.!!
“I need some space, he said,almost through gritted teeth.
Deana’s tears wouldn’t stop. Her voice broke.“Is it because of her?Did you never love me at all?” Fredric didn’t respond,he just walked away.
Back at home,the empty darkness of the house made his skin crawl.
Everything of mine was gone,except for a lingering trace of my scent that tucked into the walls. He took off his coat,sat on the couch and instinctively opened the drawer in the coffee table. After rummaging for a while,he found an old box.l
I had hidden it there when we first got married.Looks like I forgot to take it when I left. Inside was a tiny notebook,an almost–empty perfume bottle and several carefully folded letters.”
