Page 88 of Champagne Nights

“She said that she wasn’t Sophia, she didn’t need saving, and that I couldn’t save her, just like I couldn’t save Sophia.”

“I see.”

“I told her that was a low blow, that we were over, and I left.”

“You haven’t spoken to her since?”

“No. I can’t sleep. I have no appetite, and I’m back to the same person I was before I met her.”

“Do you miss her?”

“Of course I miss her. I love her more than anything in the world, but what she said to me showed me who she really was.”

“That’s not true, Ethan. People say things out of anger. She was hurt and angry that you spoke to Dr. Marchetti without talking to her first, so she threw back at you the one thing she knew would hurt you most.”

“Well, that was a shit thing to do on her part. I still don’t understand why she got so defensive about it.”

“Like I said, there has to be some psychological thing going on. Perhaps she would feel guilty for getting her sight back from an accident that took the two people away she loved the most.”

“That doesn’t make sense.” I sighed.

“In Aubrey’s head, it does. Now, I’m not saying that’s what her problem is. All I’m saying is that there’s some deep-rooted issue she doesn’t want to deal with. Give her some space and see what happens. She was in shock by what you told her. Perhaps seeing again frightens her. Let her work things out on her own.”

“I have been.”

“Would you be able to carry on a lifelong relationship with her if she decided she didn’t want to attempt to get her eyesight back?”

“Of course, I would. I love her, Dr. Perry.”

“Then that is something you need to tell her.”

Aubrey

The past few days had been the hardest days of my life. I cried every morning, taught my classes, and then came home to an empty apartment and cried myself to sleep. Ian and Penelope had seen me at my worst, and I felt bad because they tried so hard to help me. I thought Ethan was different, and apparently, I was wrong. I was so sure and secure in the fact that he could love me the way I was.

My last class had just ended, and Ian had a meeting with a student’s parents, so I sat down at my desk and did some work on my computer until he was finished. As I was sitting there, I heard a light knock on the door.

“Come in,” I spoke.

The door opened, and I heard a woman’s voice as the visitor approached me.

“Miss Callahan?” a soft voice spoke.

“Yes.” I stood up from my desk.

“I just wanted to stop in and say hi. I’m Dr. Perry. We have a mutual friend in common: Ethan Klein.”

“Hello, Dr. Perry.” I extended my hand to her. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s nice to meet you too. I was a guest speaker for the psychology classes today, and I remembered that Ethan told me you were a teacher here, so I thought I’d stop by and say hello.”

“That was very nice. Thank you. Ethan speaks very highly of you.”

“So, how is Ethan? I haven’t seen him in a while.”

“I don’t know. We aren’t seeing each other anymore.” I sat down in my chair.

“I’m sorry to hear that. I don’t mean to be forward, Aubrey, but I can see that you’re very upset. If you would like to talk about it, I’d be more than happy to listen.”

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