The next day at school as I entered the classroom, I saw that E was sitted quietly.
I moved to sit down since the class was currently in session and didn’t bother to glance at him even once.
After the bell rung, I rose to leave when I heard him gently call me back.
“Zoe. Please wait.” I stopped to look over my shoulder.
“Can we talk? Please? I won’t take too much of your time” he softly spoke.
I gazed at him and as our eyes met, I saw his sincerity and the other emotions swiveling in them, I found myself uncontrollably exhibiting towards him.
“Where?” I looked away trying to keep my emotions bottled up
“Our special spot” E answered quaintly causing me to look at him in surprise.
What did he mean by that?
I thought to myself.
“The Library. Please?” E immediately cleared up my doubts but he wasn’t wrong either.
We both only had access so technically it was our special spot only I thought ambiguously.
We moved silently side by side epicting various gasps, surprised stares plus glares.
As soon as we entered the library, the doors shut behind us as if realizing we needed a private moment to ourselves.
“What do you want?” I began breaking the silent atmosphere.
“I want to apologize” E began straightforwardly “I shouldn’t have insulted you or your mother.” He paused “I’m sorry” he continued and waited patiently for my reply.
“I was only looking out for you. I’m sorry if I’d become meddlesome.” He spoke again as though it were a matter of certainty. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“Eamon.”
“Yes?”
“I can’t forgive you.” I spoke resolutely watching his eyes dim drastically.
“Zoe…” He began but I raised my hand up and silenced him.
“My mother…” I choked, paused and took a deep breath.
I looked up at him.
“My mom is dead” I watched as he started shocked at me.
“My mother died giving birth to me..” I continued “So she didn’t watch me grow up.
She never trained me properly…..” I cried “So no.” I sniffled “I can’t forgive you.
Not now.
Not ever.” I regained serenity turning immediately to leave.
“No Zoe…..” E grabbed my arm and suddenly embraced me.
“Please. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that no matter what” I tried to pull away but he hugged me even tighter
“I lost my mom that day. It was her death anniversary….I was out of sorts. Please.” He spoke.
So we were both motherless.
How pitiful.
“I’m truly sorry Zoe. I really am” he raised my head so that I could see his face.
I looked into his eyes and remained silent for a while.
We barely knew each other and he truly apologized.
What else could I have asked for?
“Give me time E.” I replied gently.
His face lit up and he hugged me tighter as if wanting to draw strength from our proximity reminding us both that we were too close for strangers or mere acquaintances but at that moment, we didn’t care.
It was absurd but I loved it.
Him holding me.
I literally reveled in it so much that my face was on his neck greedily inhaling his scent.
As if under a spell, we didn’t let each other go relying on ourselves for support.
We both lost things important to us and at that moment understood ourselves better.