Imagine Us in Heaven

Divine Intervention

Once I confirm that it is indeed Alison Steele standing right outside my door, the first thing that comes to mind is Winter. I grab his wrist and quickly put him back in the bedroom. He looks at me, tilting his head to the side as if asking what is wrong.

"You need to hide, okay?" I explain to him. "She can't see you."

For a while, he just stares, but then he suddenly points at my chest, pressing his index finger as if trying to reach my heart. I don't understand why, but I suddenly get what he's trying to tell me. Or at least, what he's attempting to tell me.

"No..." my voice trails off as I answer, "...it doesn't hurt anymore."

His mouth curves into a smile, and I can't resist pinching his nose, which makes his expression crinkle adorably. Instead of apologizing, I just chuckle. He's so, so cute...

I warn him to stay put and be quiet before closing the door and locking it. Then, I check myself in front of the mirror above the unused fireplace and the other decorations on top. My hair is still disheveled, there are dark spots under my eyes, and stubbles are growing under my chin since I haven't taken the time to shave. Damn, of all the days for her to drop by---why does it have to be now?

Before I can deal with Clement, I must deal with Alison first.

The moment I open the door, I see the scowl all over her face as she stands with her arms crossed over her chest.

"How did you---"

She doesn't let me finish and immediately steps inside without waiting for an invitation. Yes, this is the Alison Steele I used to know!

Shrugging, I close the door and follow her to the living room. She sits on the long couch, and I sit on the opposite end. For a few seconds, we have a staring contest, but when she grows tired of it, she opens her mouth and it's like a shotgun blast.

"Let's talk."

"Do I have a choice?"

Her cold gaze fixes on me, making me more anxious, so I keep my silence. "How long have you been working there?"

Weariness begins to take its toll on my patience. Why is everyone so adamant about knowing that? "Does it even matter? Why are you here?"

"You know why I'm here, Blythe. I want an explanation."

"Explanation on what? You're getting married, Al. What else do you want me to say?" I doubt anything I say will change our situation. I'm no longer in love with her, and I'm sure she feels the same way about me.

However, as I look at her face and see how her eyes flicker, I realize how much of the past probably still haunts her like a ghost.

To be honest, our relationship back then felt like a dream. I was popular in college for being a musician, and she was renowned not only for her beauty but also for her intelligence. I used to adore those big, determined eyes of hers that never backed down. Despite the challenges of being with her, I don't regret it at all. I learned so much from Alison---she taught me to be brave and to stand up for what I believed in.

So, why did I sleep with her best friend?

I don't know. Maybe I was trying to prove a point, or maybe I was just a complete jerk who didn't deserve the affection she wasted on me.

"I want closure, Blythe." She tells me genuinely, "You're my first love, and I've built my whole future with you. I dreamed of marrying you. You cheated and you left."

"Exactly," I reply flatly. "Can't you just hate me and move on?"

A sad smile graces her pretty face. "It would've been easy if I knew you as a jerk from the beginning. But you weren't like that, and I kept thinking that... I think I'm the problem."