Todos los capítulos de A Fresh Start: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 10

"Still awake?"At 10 p.m., the bedroom door swung open.It was Daisy Duke. She wheeled a light green suitcase behind her, still dressed in the same crisp business suit she’d been wearing in the video.Instead of jumping up to greet her like I usually would, I stayed curled up on the couch, not even bothering to look up."Waiting for you," I said, keeping my voice completely flat.She walked over, her hands pausing halfway through taking off her necklace."What’s there to wait for? We’re basically an old married couple at this point.""We aren't married yet," I corrected her."It’s bound to happen eventually."When she spoke, a wave of her perfume drifted over. It was a sharp, cool scent of pine, a cologne I never wore.I let out a soft laugh."Daisy, do you actually still want to marry me?" I asked, genuinely curious."Of course."Even after telling another man how happy she was with him, she still wanted to marry me. Now, the difference was, I didn't want to anymore.She

I locked my phone and forced down a few mouthfuls of food, swallowing past the lump in my throat. Though my stomach was full, my heart felt like it had been gouged wide open.Scout let out two soft barks and curled up at my feet, silently keeping me company.At 11 p.m., Daisy finally came home, carrying a takeout box in her hand.Scout trotted over to her feet, only to be nudged away without a second thought. The dog whined softly and scurried back into my arms.I pulled him close, slowly shifting my eyes toward the takeout box she was holding."Late-night snack?"She set the box down on the dining table. "The food was pretty good, so I specifically brought some back for you.""I'm not hungry."She frowned, her tone immediately turning sharp and uncompromising. "I went out of my way to bring this back for you. Come and have some."She was calling her leftovers a special gesture just for me.I didn't reply, so she marched over, snatched the phone straight out of my hand, and s

When I got up the next morning, Daisy was sitting at the dining table, waiting for me."Matt, my dad was really unhappy with how you acted yesterday."I poured myself a glass of water and took a few sips. "And?""Aren't you going to apologize?""Apologize for what?""Being late, acting completely antisocial, and the attitude you threw at Jason."I set my glass down and looked straight at her. "So what?"She met my gaze, her frustration clearly visible. "Matt, my patience with you has limits. Don't wait until we actually break up to come crawling back, begging me. Because I won't take you back."I snapped my head up. "I won't beg, and you won't need to take me back."She let out a harsh, incredulous laugh. "After all these years, you're still as stubborn as ever. You're just convinced I’d never actually end things with you, aren't you?"I stared into her eyes, trying to look straight into her soul. "So, will you?"She avoided my gaze, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I don't

Her mind went completely blank, a ringing silence filling her ears. Images of every moment leading up to my departure flashed through her mind in rapid succession.Only now did she finally realize that my leaving had never been without warning. She was just hopelessly late to the party.When had Scout’s cheerful barking stopped? It seemed to have disappeared on the very day she kicked him aside.The bustling hum of my daily routine had vanished from the apartment, along with my gentle nagging, my quiet detachment, and the silent disappointment I held toward her.She hadn't even finished that final plate of pasta I had cooked for her.As if suddenly struck by a thought, Daisy frantically began tearing through the bedroom. Finally, at the bottom of the lowest drawer, she found my journal, where I had recorded every piece of my growing heartbreak.I had always been a forgetful person. Which meant every single word written in that notebook represented my absolute, unwavering determin

The daytime heat in Haddonfield was relentless. Scout sprawled out right in front of the air conditioner vent, refusing to budge even an inch.Sam, sitting nearby, was laughing hysterically, pointing at Scout and teasing him mercilessly. "You're the one who insisted on going out to suffer in the heat! Why aren't you going back outside now? Go on, I dare you to go for another lap!""Woof! Woof, woof!"I shook my head, unable to hide my smile.Over the past month, Scout and Sam had developed a total love-hate dynamic. However, it was also the most liberating trip Scout had ever had. Sam would take him through the desert trails, letting him burn off all that boundless energy.Listening to the chaos between the man and the dog, the smile stayed glued to my face.Just then, a knock sounded at the hotel room door, and Scout trotted over happily. I turned my head only to find Daisy standing right outside the door. There were dark circles bruised under her eyes, and her lips were cracked