Love is Dangerous

9. Conclusion

That day Charlotte was working at the police station, when Lydia walked towards her desk.

- So, you feel better now – she said, smiling.
- Yes – Charlotte answered immediately.

- That was not a question – Lydia replied, coming closer – Charlotte I was...I was worried for you. –
- You shouldn't... -
- No, please, let me speak – she insisted, smiling again – the first time I heard what happened in the Roman Baths and then in the Parade Gardens, I was shocked! Terrified!–

Charlotte looked at her and almost wanted to cry; before, she had never thought about the feelings of her friends during those awful moments.

Lydia, Mark... probably they had suffered so much for her...

She suddenly remembered Mark's tears when he found her lying near the water, after the fight in the Roman Baths; he was so desperate, hopeless.

- I'm so sorry Lydia, for real... -
- No, you don't have to. You surely didn't want to be haunted by your exboyfriend for months – she said again, trying to laugh.

But it wasn't funny, and both of them were aware of it.

- Were you, were you afraid for my life? – Charlotte asked Lydia.
- Yes, for sure...but not only for that...I was... - suddenly, she hugged Charlotte – I was afraid you could have been heartbroken forever. –

Charlotte hugged her as well, but didn't say anything. She was confused, surprised. She thought she had perfectly hidden her feelings when she was living with Lydia but, apparently, her friend had realized how much she was suffering after Daniel's death.

But she was okay now, she was happy about her life. Although...there was just one little "detail" that continued to hurt her. She felt guilty... and was afraid of Lydia's opinion.

Charlotte probably needed some...words of encouragement.
- So – she asked Lydia - do you think I made the right choice? By becoming a killer... –

- Killer? – Lydia repeated immediately, and she seemed almost upset – I don't want to listen to that word again, never again. –

Then, her friend tried to be more understanding.
- I just mean – Lydia added – that you are a good girl Charlotte, a good cop and a good friend. And you had to kill him to save yourself, to save Mark as well... I know it, all your colleagues know it. We are with you, Charlotte, always. –

Then they both smiled. That was what Charlotte needed to hear and, after those words, she started to feel better.

- Thank you Lydia, thank you so much. For everything – she said.
- Oh, don't thank me Charlotte...or, actually, there's something you could do for me now. You should just look for a person... -
- Who? – she asked.
- Who!? – Lydia almost started laughing – Maybe the guy who risked his own life just to help you... -
- Mark – Charlotte whispered, looking away.

She knew she should have tried to speak to him immediately after the events in the Parade Gardens, but she never did.
Two, three, four days passed, and she continued to avoid him.
So, after an entire month, she had never found the courage to call him or to go to his house to thank him.

Charlotte owed him so much, she knew it...but she felt too ashamed to speak to him. She was ashamed of the lies she had told him, of all her secrets during those 2 years of work together... Especially, she felt guilty for his fight against Daniel and all the cuts and wounds on Mark's body.

He was a good person and she...didn't deserve him. That was what she thought.

However, Lydia's words had started to change her opinion.