Page 40 of Beyond our Forever

It does sound interesting, I really like the idea of feeling free to explore my thoughts, to find out what my path is, because I don’t think it’s too late for me, even if Emilia sees it differently.

Just because we’re best friends doesn’t mean we have to think alike. What I did find very hurtful was the disparaging way she dismissed my feelings.

But we’ll talk about that later.

I’m sitting in my car about to leave, when my phone rings and Bruce’s name appears on the screen.

Should I answer or not?

In the end I decide it’s better to grab the bull by the horns, so I accept the call.

“Hi,” he greets me. “I stopped by the house a moment ago. I thought you would be there.”

At least he doesn’t seem angry now, so perhaps we can have a civilized conversation.

“I’m at school, I came to sort some affairs.”

“At the boys’ school?” he queries. “You should have told me. I’d have gone with you.”

“No, actually it’s about school for me. I’ve decided to take a few classes.”

“Really?” he exclaims a bit shocked, and I dare to say, happily too. “That’s wonderful, baby, we must go out and celebrate.”

His words, and more than that, the tone of his voice give me goose bumps. He just spoke to me as he would have done before, in such a natural, sincere way.

My thoughts fly back to our early years together.

Where did that man go? Oh Bruce, how I miss you.

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” I cut him short in order to protect my poor, bruised heart. “It’s nothing out of the ordinary, just a few classes.”

“I don’t agree, I really think this is worth celebrating,” he cuts off my protest. “Let’s go out tonight. Please?”

His enthusiasm is contagious, maybe that’s what I’ve been missing.

“Okay. What time do you want us to be ready?”

I’ll have to get the kids to do their homework early and then get everything ready for tomorrow because it’s a school day.

“Ilythia, this invitation is just for you, so call the sitter. Tonight you and I are going to go out by ourselves,” he insists.

“Bruce, the last time just the two of us went out to dinner it didn’t turn out well, so why do you want to repeat the experience?”

That night was a disaster, so I’d rather better avoid making life even more difficult when we already have enough problems.

For a couple of seconds he says nothing, and I hear him sigh before finally answering. “Can’t we try being friends? Let’s go out like we used to, have some fun together.”

“You and I were never just friends, Bruce,” I remind him. Our story was so much more than that. From the moment he laid eyes on me and decided he wanted me, he never hesitated until he got me.

I never doubted his intentions toward me, which were never just plain friendship.

“Can’t we start being friends now?”

The question remains in the air, the answer suspended like the proverbial sword over my head.

The phone is still in my hand as the words tighten around my throat like a knot, keeping me from breathing.

Can I honestly be his friend?

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