The Law Student

Part 3

Over the next few days, you and Cillian carried on with your usual routine, but there was a noticeable distance between the two of you. In class, he would sit as far away from you as possible, and his answers in seminars were brief and to the point. You couldn't help but wonder if you had hurt his feelings, but exhaustion eventually set in. You were going through a demanding period at work, and you had to remind yourself that you had made the right decision.

You knew that Cillian was a mere distraction, a fleeting moment of desire that you couldn't afford to indulge in. As a professor, you were always conscious of the power dynamic that existed between you and your students.

You knew that your position meant that you were in a position of authority, and that opening yourself up to a romantic relationship was not only inappropriate but also risky.

You knew that you had to maintain your professionalism, no matter how difficult it might be.

And so, you carried on, putting your attraction to Cillian to the side as you focused on your work.

Your days were long and demanding. Not only were you busy with work, but you were also going through an ugly separation and divorce.

One evening, you left the campus late, feeling drained and exhausted and decided to call into a bar nearby. You knew that there was live music playing and thinking that some music might help to lift your spirits, you decided that it would be the perfect remedy to an otherwise exhausting day.

The busy bar was crowded with people, most of whom were students, their laughter and chatter filling the room.

Just as you ordered a glass of wine though, someone tapped you on the shoulder. Surprised, you turned around to find the man you were still married to standing there. James and you had been separated for months but the way things had ended were rather unfortunate for you both. He had been unfaithful to you , his infidelity leaving you heartbroken, angry, and insidiously doubtful about yourself, despite your professional achievements and your generally charmed life.

You had been trying hard to avoid him at university where he worked as a professor in a different faculty and seeing him here, tonight, hit you like a ton of bricks, your heart pounding heavily and sweat starting to gather on your brow.

His lips quirked into a half-smile and you struggled not to let him see how much his unexpected presence unnerved you.

"James," you said, managing a pleasant but measured tone. "I didn't expect to run into you here. Bars like these aren't usually your scene."

"I know," he replied, his eyes scanning your face. "But you took pretty much everything I owned, so I'm kind of short on cash these days and the drinks here are cheap," he mused, but you immediately felt irritated.

"Everything you owned?" you chuckled bitterly. "You mean everything I paid for from the money I had inherited when my grandmother passed away?" you said, your voice tight with anger. You hated that he could still get under your skin, but you refused to let him see that he affected you.

"I made a mistake and I apologised, but clearly that wasn't good enough. You just went right ahead and filed for seperation," James said, his tone turning defensive, and you couldn't help but roll your eyes at his victim mentality, that and his somewhat warped sense of reality. "You put me out on the street and then you avoided me. You keep your distance at work and you don't pick up my calls. It's not fucking fair that, after five years, the only person I get to talk to now is your fucking attorney," he snapped, and you could see a tick forming in his jaw.

You took a deep breath, trying to rein in your temper. "Look, James, I'm not doing this again. I'm sorry that our separation has been hard on you, but that's not my problem anymore. You made your bed, now lie in it," you said firmly, trying to put an end to the conversation.