Falling Stars [h.s]

Chapter 8

Aurora

He shook his head in frustration, "That's not at all what I said."

"You didn't have to. I don't have time for this Harry. I just got back from work. I want to go in my home and be with my family if you don't mind."

He grabbed my arm, stopping me from leaving the car. "Please forgive me." I looked down at his arm gripping mine. I lifted my head to look up at him.

"Forgiving isn't the issue Harry. Forgetting is. I can't possible forget what I went through. I don't ever think I'll be able to forget that you hurt me. Even If I did forgive you, even if I were to rekindle a friendship with you, it'll always be visible the way you let me down. My heart is too big and I realized that too late, but you didn't have to hurt me. It was a decision you made and there's no turning back from it."

"Forgive me and I'll make you forget you've ever been through such pain."

I shook my head abruptly. "No, I can't."

"Why not?"

"Why not? Are you really asking me why I won't forgive you? Why I won't let you back into my life?" He nodded with no hesitation. I let out a sigh, shaking my head once more. I never imagined I would ever be sitting in a car with Harry again, pouring my heart out to him. Although he didn't deserve to know what I was feeling in my heart, I want him to realize just how much damage he did.

"I admit, I loved you more than I let on, but only because you made me believe we could be something. You weren't ready for me to love you and you weren't ready to love me. I didn't want to express just how much in love I was with you because I was afraid of losing you. That was until I realized you never really belonged to me in the first place. Even though my heart was with you, you never looked my way. You were too caught up with someone else. It was just an arranged marriage that was eventually going to go downhill after all. So instead of expressing my true feelings, I bottled everything up and watched you fall in love with someone else. I was no longer afraid of losing someone who wasn't destined for me."

"I never meant to hurt you Aurora. I only wanted to do what was right. What was best for both me and you. Leaving wasn't a mistake that much I can admit. Hurting you wasn't an option, but staying in a marriage filled with lies and no love wasn't something I was willing to do. I'd rather you hate me for leaving then staying."

It made sense what he was saying, but that still didn't make what he did okay. I gave him many chances to leave with no regrets. I asked him time and time again if he wanted to marry me and he continued to say yes. His actions never matched his words either. So even if what he was saying right now made sense, it wasn't enough for me to forgive him and let him back into my life. I wasn't ready for that. Although it wouldn't hurt for him to be apart of Layla's life. I never hid him for her. Whenever I got the chance I always told her about her father. She wanted to know as well. Growing up with a single parent never turns out well once kids become teenagers. I didn't want to hide Harry from her. She deserved to know who he was, even if he didn't deserve to know her.

I responded calmly, "Okay."

He stared back at me with pursed lips and furrowed brows. "Okay?"

"There isn't much more to say. I don't want to relive the past."

He nodded, hesitant to speak, "Can I properly meet her?"

I wasn't ready for Harry to introduce himself to Layla as her father. Although she has been ready to meet him for as long as I can remember, I needed time to adjust to the changes. "Not yet."

"Whenever you're ready." I appreciated how understanding he was. Even if he wasn't, it was my decision to make after all. I didn't have to let him be apart of Layla's life as a father figure, but I wanted to. I wanted her to know her father for the kind person he was.

"Can I ask you a question?" I nodded yes to reassure him he can.

"Will you have dinner with me? Friday night at my place." I was flabbergasted he had the courage and audacity to ask me on a date.

"It's been five minutes now. You should go."