Chapter 9

Mark asked me a very good question. Did I want to end what we had? I placed the coffee cup down and exhaled deeply. “No, Mark. I don’t want to end what we have.” My words caused hope to sparkle in his eyes.

“But you will end it anyway, won’t you?” He looked away from me and stared at the coffee in his coffee mug.

“I think posting the video should be enough to tell you that I am not willing to stay with you. Not after what you did, Mark. She’s my best friend. Do you know how messed up that is?” I felt my heart ache.

“I would probably now have trust issues for the rest of my life,” I added, and he looked back at me.

“Yeah,” His voice was breathy and filled with shame, guilt, and regret. “If I could take it all back, I swear to you that I would. But I can’t, and so all I can hope for is to become a better man for myself and for you.”

“Mmhmm,” I mumbled, and then brought the cup to my lips. I drank the last of my coffee and I felt energized and almost full. “Thank you for being civil