Second Time’s A Charm

Seven

As I stumbled into the living room, defeated and broken, the weight of disappointment and hurt crushing my spirit, I couldn't help but feel like my world was crumbling around me. The pain was unbearable, and all I could do was collapse onto the nearest couch, tears streaming down my face. The twisting pain ate me up from the inside out. To finally know that the man I loved with my whole soul and body only used me all this time.

I found myself drawn to the bedroom, almost as if on autopilot, my eyes landing on the family photo hanging on the wall. It was a snapshot of happier times, a reminder of the love we once shared, of our family. But now, it felt like a cruel mockery of everything that had gone wrong. With a trembling hand, I reached out and grabbed the photo, the glass frame slipping from my fingers and shattering as it hit the floor, I raised my foot and stomped on it as hard as I could. Each shard seemed to mirror the broken pieces of my heart.

His words echoed in my mind, haunting me like ghosts from the past. The promises of love, the declarations of devotion—they were nothing but lies, empty words meant to deceive and manipulate. How could I have been so blind for ten whole years?

Months ago, I had made the ultimate sacrifice for him, giving up my shares in a desperate attempt to prove my love. But it was all in vain. No amount of selflessness could fix what was broken between us.

In a fit of rage and despair, I stormed into the closet, tearing his clothes from their hangers and throwing them onto the bed. Each garment felt like a betrayal, a reminder of the man I thought I knew but never truly understood. I bundled them up in a bedsheet, tying them together with trembling hands.

Outside, the pool sat empty, a stark contrast to the turbulent emotions raging inside me. I had asked our groundskeeper to drain it earlier so he could clean it, not knowing then that it would serve as the stage for my first act of trying to move on.

In the shed, I searched for something to fuel the flames of my anger. My hands closed around a half-empty canister of kerosene, and without hesitation, I poured it onto the bedsheet, soaking it in the volatile liquid. The smell of gasoline filled the air, mingling with the scent of freshly cut grass and the faint hint of chlorine from the pool.

With a heavy heart, I gathered his belongings—shoes, clothing, pictures—and threw them onto the bedsheet, watching as they were swallowed by the flames. a desperate way of purging myself of the memories that threatened to consume me and drive me into madness.

As the fire crackled and danced before me, I felt a sense of catharsis wash over me. It was as if each flickering flame was burning away the pain and sorrow, leaving behind nothing but ashes. I don't know what my life was going to be like, Michael and Mason were all I had, my whole world. Michael took away everything good in my life. How was I supposed to live from now on?

As I wiped the tears from my eyes I saw a small envelope lying at my feet, with trembling hands, I picked up the envelope and took out its contents as it was already opened, revealing a letter from an address in Italy. After unfolding the piece of paper inside my parents' handwriting stared back at me, the words blurred by tears as I read their message of forgiveness and love. They talked about their life in Italy about how much they missed me. They asked for forgiveness and said they were willing to finally accept Michael if that's what it takes for us to reconcile.

At that moment, everything seemed to fall into place. Despite the mistakes I had made, despite the pain I had caused, there was still hope for redemption. My parent's unconditional love reminded me that no matter how far I had fallen, I was still worthy of love and forgiveness.

As the flames continued to consume his memories and our shared past, I made a vow to myself—to let go of the pain and embrace the promise of a brighter tomorrow, for my son and I. It wouldn't be easy, and there would be obstacles along the way, my love for Michael being one of them, but with the love and support of those who cared for me, I knew I could overcome anything. I could already imagine myself in their warm embrace. I haven't seen them for ten years, How were they? What happened to them all these? Guilt ate at me, to think I never thought of them once and hated them for not accepting Michael. I was ashamed of myself and scared to face them, all I wanted was to kneel before them and ask them to forgive me.

And so, as the last embers of the fire died away, I emerged from the ashes, a phoenix reborn, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The road to redemption would be long and difficult, but I was no longer alone. With my parents' love guiding me, their love like a house on a hill guiding me like a lighthouse, I knew I could find my way back to the light, to their arms.

But I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I dared to hope for redemption, After what I did did I deserve it? But the thought of reuniting with them was too tempting and once again I chose to be selfish and go and find them.