The rain had picked up, a steady rhythm that filled the silence between us.
I leaned against the wall, feeling the coolness seep into my skin.
Forgiveness, the word felt foreign, distant, like something from another life.
“I don’t know,” I admitted finally.
“Maybe it’s too late.”
Laura didn’t rush to fill the silence, letting it settle like a comforting blanket.
“It’s never too late,” she said eventually.
Her faith in me was unwavering, even when mine was not.
“Just take your time.”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me, appreciating the space she offered me to breathe.
As I hung up, the room felt different, less suffocating, as if the decision was no longer a weight pressing down on me.
Maybe there was still a chance to find a way through this.
Note: This story is a work of fiction inspired by real events. Names, characters, and details have been altered.
