"Hello?" Charlotte picked up the phone and whispered into it. It was late at night, and roommate was already fast asleep.
There was a pause on the other side and then a short "Meet me outside. I'll be waiting in the park," and then a click and the line went dead.
Charlotte's heart beat faster as she recognized the voice on the other side as John's. She knew he would try to contact her after a while, but she wasn't ready right now. Her head raced, but she grabbed a jacket and tiptoed out of the house.
John was waiting for her in the light of the lamppost in the park. He was sitting on the bench, fidgeting nervously with his hands. His head was down and Charlotte could only see the back of his head as she approached.
"John?" She called him softly. He whipped his head around, and his eyes widened as if he had not actually expected her to come. She could see his body tense slightly, then he stood up, abruptly, as if a second thought. She walked over to him and sat on the bench, patting on the seat beside her to invite him to sit down again. He did, after a pause, and opened and closed his mouth as if he wanted to say something but didn't know what.
"I love you, Char," John blurted out. His voice was quiet, as if he was willing her not to hear his words, but firm, sure of what he meant. "I loved you from the moment I saw you, I loved you while I was waiting for you to love me back. I loved you when you did and I loved you when I had to leave you. Goddamn, I love you so much that even now it hurts to even look at you. I love you." His eyes were red, glistening in the lamp light. He would understand if she didn't feel the same. He had hurt her, but he had to say this now, before he regretted it for the rest of his life.
Charlotte could not believe her ears. She tensed, drawing her arms around her as if chilled by the night air. Her cheeked flushed, and she hoped the color was hidden by the darkness. The words John spoke pierced her through the heart. She loved him too, God knows. She loved him so much. But he had hurt her so much. She didn't think she could recover when he left her. Her eyes began to flood with tears, and John grabbed her arms, softly, and held her hands in his.
"I know I hurt you, Char. I know I shouldn't have left when I did, or at least I should have contacted you. I tried, you have no idea how many times I tried. Every time I picked up the phone I could just about smell you, feel your warmth, hear your voice in my ears. But I knew I hurt you, and I couldn't bear the thought of you hating me. And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." His voice was cracking, and Charlotte could feel his body trembling through the hands that held hers.
"I forgive you." Charlotte felt the words slip from her tongue, resonating with the meaning coming from her heart. "I love you." The second set of words choked out of her, but as soon as they escaped, she knew she meant them with all her heart. He had hurt her, yes, but it was the very fact that she had loved him so much, and still loved him, that it was able to hurt that much. She knew in her soul that this kind of love was too precious to let go. They had a lot to talk about, yes, but they were finally together.
John's entire body visibly relaxed as he pulled her body firmly into his, relieved. She didn't hate him. He would have utterly fallen to pieces if she had not felt the same. His mind raced. She loved him, she loved him, she loved him. Now, her body in his, holding his waist as if it were her lifeline, he felt whole again. Now, whatever faced him, he would be able to handle it because she was with him, and because she loved him back.
The end.
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