Page 73 of After Everything
"That's good. That's really good."
"What about you?" he asked. "What's your life like?"
I thought about how to answer that. "Good. Busy. We hired another NP at the clinic, so now I'm doing more administrative work. Training, program development. It's not what I expected, but I like it." I paused. "I started running again too. Did my first 10K last month."
"That's amazing. You always loved running."
"Yeah." I smiled slightly. "I forgot how much I missed it."
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Not the painful, awkward silence from the beginning. Just... space. Twopeople existing in the same room without it hurting.
"I'm glad you're doing well," David said finally. "Really glad. You deserve to be happy."
"So do you," I said. And meant it.
His eyes widened slightly, like he hadn't expected that.
"I mean it," I continued. "You made terrible choices. You hurt me in ways I'm still recovering from. But David, you're clearly trying to become someone better. And I think... I think you deserve a chance to be happy too. Even if it's not with me."
"Thank you," he said quietly. "That means more than you know."
I looked at him across the table. Three years ago, I would have said I'd never be able to sit in a room with him without wanting to scream. Six months ago, I would have said I'd never be able to have a conversation with him without feeling that old anger rise up.
But now, sitting here, I just felt... calm. Like maybe we could both move forward.Maybe not together, but not as enemies either.
"I should go," I said finally.
David nodded. "Of course."
We both stood. For a moment, we just looked at each other, neither of us sure what the protocol was. Hug? Handshake? Nothing?
I settled for a small nod, grabbing my jacket from the back of the chair.
"The referrals," I said. "The DV cases. Keep sending them to the clinic. We have the capacity, and your clients need the help."
Something shifted in David's expression. Relief, maybe. "I will. Thank you."
"It's not for you," I said. But my voice was softer than I intended. "It's for them."
"I know."
I turned to leave, got three steps toward the door, then stopped. Looked back.
David was still standing by the table, watching me. Not hopeful, exactly. Just... present. Waiting to see what I'd say.
"I don't know what this is," I admitted. "What we are now."
"That's okay." His voice was gentle. "We don't have to figure it out today."
I nodded slowly. "Okay."
"Thank you for coming, Emma. For listening. For being honest with me." He paused. "It means everything."
I didn't know what to say to that, so I just gave him one more nod and walked out.
The cool October air hit my face as I stepped onto the sidewalk. I stood there for a moment, just breathing, trying to process what had just happened.
Three years. Three years of anger and grief and rebuilding. And now... what?
