“If I said I wasn’t okay, would you stay?”
He realized that I had already prepared to leave that day.
If he had stayed, just for that one time, I wouldn’t have left.
At the police station, Sienna threw a tantrum, demanding to see Zachary,
Zachary had no choice but to meet her.
As soon as she saw him, Sienna threw herself into his embrace, her face streaked with tears. “I’m sorry, Zach. Please forgive me. I just wanted to be with you!”
Zachary pushed her away calmly. “Sienna, you have two choices. Either leave Eiderton right now or never leave the city ever
again.”
Sienna stared at him in disbelief. She couldn’t believe this–Zachary used to hang on to her every word. He had promised to grant her every wish she had.
“I won’t leave you, Zach,” she said, stubbornly believing that she would be able to convince Zachary to be with her.
Zachary looked at her coldly. “You will never see me again.‘
11
He walked out of the police station and lit a cigarette numbly. He had promised me to stop smoking when we got married.
Suddenly, he heard my voice coming from the police station behind him. He thought that he was hallucinating until he saw me standing there.
He froze.
Then, as reality sank in, he rushed forward and pulled me into a crushing embrace. His arms were so tight around me that I couldn’t breathe. I pounded on his back anxiously.
His eyes were bloodshot. He did not seem to believe that I was standing right there.
“I’m sorry, Evie. Please don’t leave me,” he cried.
No one around us knew what to do.
Ten minutes later, Julia and Andrew arrived at the police station as well.
All of us were taken into a meeting room at the station. Julia burst into tears when she saw me and hugged me tightly.
I comforted her, tears running down my face as well.
“Why were you here, Evie?” she asked.
“She helped a pregnant woman get to the hospital just in time. Thanks to her, both mother and baby are safe,” a police officer explained. “These people came here to thank her.”
Hearing that, Julia cried even harder. “I’m so sorry, Evie! Why didn’t you tell me? I could’ve stood up for you!”
I didn’t know what to say.
Zachary looked at me, guilt written all over his face. “I’m sorry, Evie. This was all my fault. I didn’t keep my promise to you. Would you give me another chance?”
I could tell that he was sincere, but it was too late.
Gently, I shook my head. I had a lot of things to say, but I didn’t know where to start.
‘Some things, once gone, are gone for good, Zachary,” I said, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “What I need is someone I can rely on, a partner who will face all challenges with me no matter how hard life gets. I don’t need someone who lets me down at every turn.”
Zachary fell into silent contemplation. He seemed to be regretting his choices.
“I understand that,” he said lowly. “But I am willing to change, Evie. I am willing to do anything for you and our future together.
I looked at him, complicated emotions swirling inside me.
“You said before that you would always stay by my side and love me forever,” I said. “I believed you then, but reality has shown
me that promises can be fragile.
“I don’t need any promises. I need you to do what you said you would.
“I need a home that makes me feel safe and happy.”
Hope flashed in Zachary’s eyes. He took my hand and held it tightly. “I will, Evie. I will do everything I can to prove my love to you. I will change. Just give me a chance to make things right.”
I pulled my hand away gently.
We looked at each other, eyes full of complicated emotions.
“I should go home now,” I said. “I need rest.”
“Okay. I’ll take you home,” Zachary said, standing up. He carefully escorted me out of the police station.
Outside, the sky had darkened. But I knew–no matter how long the night, morning would always come.
