I almost said no.
But something told me to go.
When I arrived, she was already seated behind the glass.
She looked different. Older. Tired.
We picked up the phones.
“Thank you for coming,” she said.
I nodded.
“Why did you want to see me?”
“Because I owed you a real apology. Face to face.”
I waited.
“Carmen, I destroyed your life because I was destroying mine. And I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”
Her voice broke.
“I don’t expect you to forgive me. I just needed you to hear it.”
I looked at her for a long time.
Then I said something I never thought I’d say.
“I forgive you.”
Her eyes widened.
“You do?”
“Yes. Not because you deserve it. But because I deserve peace.”
She started crying.
“Thank you.”
I hung up the phone.
Stood up.
And walked away.
I didn’t look back.
Because I didn’t need to.
That chapter was finally closed.
And I was ready to write the next one.
On my fifty-seventh birthday, Javier and Ana threw me a surprise party.
The house was full of people.
