Page 81 of All That She Needs

"See you,"

I watched him until he disappeared behind the door before I went downstairs. I spent the rest of my time at the house as everyone rushed around, with Chloe in my arms. She didn't care much about packing, as long as her iPad and iPhone weren't forgotten.

When they left, a deep sense of anguish filled my chest. The reality that I should have been there with them, enjoying the holiday, pressing heavily on me. I watched as they drove away, feeling the emptiness settle in. The laughter and excitement that had filled the house only moments ago were now replaced by a deafening silence.

My mind drifted back to when I arrived at the house two hours ago, just before I walked inside, and was standing in the same spot I was now. I wanted to have this moment here, not anywhere else. It was significant to me, a place filledwith memories, both good and bad. It was a reminder that even amidst the chaos, I could take steps toward rebuilding what had been broken.

I reached for my phone in my pocket, opened it, and the screen came to life. I scrolled through my messages until I found her name—Vanessa. With a determination that reinforced my promise to myself, I deleted all our chats without hesitation—every single one.

Next, I located her name in my contacts.

And I blocked her. Then, I deleted her from my life.

*** *** ***

It had already been a week since my kids and Asha went on holiday. I video-called them every morning, enjoying my conversations with Kayden as he shared his subdued excitement—still seemingly hesitant to be too friendly—with me about his new hobby, skiing. Meanwhile, Chloe filled our calls with her endless complaints about her uncles, who were too terrified to let her ski on her own.

I also spoke to Asha once; unfortunately, she had come down with a bit of the flu due to the cold weather there, and our conversation was frequently interrupted by her sneezes every minute or so.

To my surprise, Max joined the video call with Asha, sitting in silence and staring at me through the screen. While it might seem small, to me, it was a significant improvement.

It was Sunday, and with nothing on my agenda, I decided to go for a night jog around the apartment complex. I hadn't been exercising regularly for a while, and my muscles felt stiff and unused. As I started off, the fresh air filled my lungs, refreshing me with each step.

I jogged for about an hour, moving along the quiet pathways lit by soft lights. The sound of my footsteps echoed in the stillness, and I focused on the rhythm of my breathing, trying not to think of anything. As I passed the little cafe where I often stopped for coffee and treats, the familiar scent of baked goods tempted me. I picked up a turkey sandwich for dinner before taking a leisurely walk back to the apartment.

Just before I reached the front door of the lobby, I heard someone call my name. I stiffened instantly, recognizing the voice.

"Aiden," the voice called again, more insistent this time. I turned slowly, my heart racing.

Then she stepped out of the shadows, coming into view. "Vee," I whispered, almost breathless.

Vanessa took a step closer, her gaze holding mine. "I'm sorry to show up like this," she said softly. Her face looked pale and troubled, and her clothes were disheveled. She shifted nervously, her hands clasped tightly in front of her, fidgeting slightly as she stood there. "I wanted to call you, but you blocked my number."

"Yeah..." I replied, my voice trailing off. I took a few seconds to steady myself, before finally meeting her gaze. "You shouldn't be here, Vee."

"I need to talk to you," she said, stepping closer. Instinctively, I took a step back, needing distance from her. "I need to explain." I stared at her, wondering if this had anything to do with her canceled wedding. She hesitated, her gaze pleading. "Can we talk upstairs? In your apartment?"

I blinked at her, frozen for a moment. No.No!

"No," I said firmly, shaking my head. "I can't let myself get into this again, Vee." I took a deep breath. "I have already let you go."

Her face fell, and she nodded, glancing away as if searching for the right words. "I know... and I don't blame you," she said, her voice trembling. "But I just couldn't leave it like this. Not without explaining myself to you."

"What is there to explain, Vee? I don't understand." I asked, genuinely confused.

"Is there someplace around here that we can talk?" She glanced around the area, and I followed her line of sight. She spotted the lights coming from the little cafe I had just visited. "Perhaps over there?"

I weighed my options and settled on the cafe as a safe place to talk. I nodded to her, and we walked together in silence. The outdoor tables were empty, perfect for a quiet conversation. We picked a table, and I headed to the counter to order a hot coffee for myself and a hot tea for her. After receiving my order, I returned to the table with our drinks.

I sipped my coffee while waiting for her to speak. She seemed anxious, her hands trembling as she clutched the paper cup, causing some of the tea to spill over the rim. At that moment, I realized something. I wasn't as obsessed with her as I used to be. Perhaps the time apart had helped me strengthen myself.

Watching her fidget, I couldn't ignore the lingering feelings that were still there for her, but they felt different now—more manageable. I thought about how far I'd come since our last encounter, how I had started to build a life without her. Yet here she was, asking for my attention again, and part of me was torn between curiosity and caution.

"I'm sorry, Aiden," she began, her gaze dropping to the table. "I know you must be angry and disappointed in me. But you must understand, it was so hard to see you go back to her night after night. I felt powerless, watching you always choosing her over me."

My brows furrowed further in confusion, but I decided to let her speak and see where this was heading.

"I thought," she continued, her voice trembling slightly, "that it wasn't fair for you to be with her while you were with me, but I had to be faithful to you. I was angry. I felt small and insignificant, and sometimes it seemed like you were just using me. I couldn't shake the feeling that you never truly loved me."

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