She already had her answer.

Even without him saying a word, she already knew.

"I'm sorry." His voice was uneven. "I'm—-"

"Since when?" And this time her pain was no longer silent or unseen, her body shaking, her tears falling faster, and her voice tremulous and whisper-thin.

He gazed at her bleakly. "For six years now."










Her

In My Life by Bette Midler

THE PROFESSOR SOUNDEDfrantic in his texts.

I'm outside your dorm. I need to see you. Please. I don't want you hurting like this.

Let me talk to you. Please.

But Diana couldn't make herself believe him.

Please, my darling. Let me talk to you. Just three words. That's all I'm asking you to let me say.

Just three words.

Three words, he said.

Did he really think it would be that easy? That he only had to say those words and all would be forgiven?

Diana:Say it now.

Matthijs:It's something better discussed in person. Please.

She stared at the words he had typed until her tears washed them all away. She was just so tired. So damn tired. She had known that being with a man like him wouldn't be a walk in the park, but this...this was the end.

She could have and probably would have eventually forgiven him for lying about the university's dating policies (or lack thereof). Given enough time, she would've likely learned to accept that he had secrets to keep, and that she could only be patient and wait for him to trust her.