“I am so sorry, Emme.” Was all she heard him say before she mentally retreated inwards to fortify herself for whatever was to come.
Hearing Aaron so heartbroken tugged at Emme in a way that the words he spoke did not. Yet swamping her inherent need to sympathize was a healthy amount of shock as she reeled at what he possibly could have done that would have him sounding so dejected and apologetic. Carefully she sat down next to him on the curb, where he had slumped.
“Sorry for what?” She questioned, gently placing her hand on his knee.
He looked down at her hand and mumbled, “Please forgive me Emme.”
“I need to know what it is you want me to forgive before I can.” Emme did her best not to sound scared. She waited, her heart thumping faster and harder the longer the pained silence stretched.
“You know how my parents have been pressuring me.” He hedged.
She nodded when he didn’t continue.
“Well I agreed.” He blurted out in a rush.
“That’s not so bad.” Emme shrugged. “We can figure around a few months of you traveling with your dad for work.”
Even as she said the words Emme cringed as she watched him shrink in on himself, as if he could curl up and hide right there in front of her.
“Is there more?” She asked tentatively.
He nodded. He shifted so that he was fully facing her. “I didn’t exactly tell you everything that my parents were wanting from me. I was hoping to work it out so I wouldn’t have to, but they didn’t budge.”
“What didn’t you tell me?” She almost didn’t want to ask. In fact, she didn’t want to know the answer.
“It is more than a few months.” He trailed off. His head drooped, not looking at her.
“What else?” She prodded, tamping down her panic.
“No girlfriend. He says that I will be better able to focus and socialize with his associates’ daughters if I am single.” Even as Aaron spoke he didn’t look up at her.
She didn’t know how to respond. Instead she sat there. It was unreal. They had fought so hard, for so long, to be together and with no warning at all he had given up on her. He was breaking up with her and using his parents as an excuse. Shaking, she stood and rubbed her hands on her jeans.
“I have to go.” Emme forced herself to speak, simply wanting to leave.
In a few steps she was at the stairs leading back to her apartment, pleading with her body to make it up the stairs before she broke down weeping. It was a struggle to move fast enough.
“Don’t leave.” He cried, desperation tearing at his plea.
She stopped but couldn’t turn to face him.
“Why?” She tossed back at him angrily. “You apparently have already left me. For your parents.”
“No, I didn’t want to.” He mewled piteously.
“Want to or not, you did.” Emme forced herself to hold her head up straight and not slump as she went inside her apartment. Hidden behind the curtains of her front window she watched him leave. She loved him. With a tear falling down her face she forced herself to walk away from the window and into her bed where she cried herself to sleep.
The next morning Emme was not prepared to face the long lonely day ahead. She knew though that there was no way she was missing class. Head down, she walked to campus. Wrapped up in her thoughts she didn’t see him coming until he was holding her arms in front of him. She automatically jerked away.
“Wait!” Aaron stopped her before she took another step away. Caught, she slumped and refused to look at him. He pressed on anyways. “Emme, I realize how much of a jerk I was last night. I never thought of it as picking them over you. I thought I was making a compromise that would let us be together eventually.”
Eyes blazing Emme raised her head to glare up at him. “How on earth would dumping me and leaving to go schmooze with client’s daughters help us be together?” she whispered furiously.
“Doesn’t matter. I’m not gonna do it.” He pulled her close, going in for a kiss.
“Aaron.” She pulled back with enough force to break away. They both staggered back.
“Emme. I don’t understand. I told my dad I’m not going to do it. I’m not giving you up.” His sad, pleading eyes tried to read the turmoil in her eyes.
“That’s the thing.” She paused, stepping back. “You already gave me up. I’m not a toy you can leave behind and come pick back up on a whim.”
“No.” His whisper tore at the precarious bubble attempting to shield her heart from getting hurt even further. “What can I say or do that would prove I will never give up on you?”
She shook her head. “I need time. I can forgive you but I don’t trust you right now. And for our relationship to work there has to be trust.”
Instantly he stood up straight. Emme tried her best not to snuggle up into him. Physically she was still drawn to him. It was her head that was screaming for her to stay away. With no choice but to pull back she jerked her head up toward the nearby building. “I have to get to class.”
“I’ll walk you.” He ventured, adding quickly, “As a friend.”
All she chose to do was nod. At this point she wasn’t in the mood for a conversation. Yet a sliver of hope wiggled its way into her thoughts. Aaron seemed to sense her need for silence and walked amiably at her side, not getting too close and not pushing for her to talk. He opened the building door and stayed with her until she reached her classroom.
Before she went in his hand softly touched her waist. He withdrew his hand quickly.
“Emme I am serious. I am not going to give up on us. Take the time you need. Just know that I will be here for you. No matter what.” With that definitive assurance he gave her a small crooked smile and a shrug. “Enjoy your class.”
