I sat in Mason's arms, surrounded by tension, as Max and Xander approached me. They asked if I remembered them, and I nodded, my eyes fixed on theirs.
"Do you hate us?" Xander asked, his voice laced with regret.
I looked at them, and for a moment, I saw the little boys who had once been my cousins, my friends. "I just want to say I'm so sorry, Larisa...I mean, Letricia," Max said, his voice cracking. "We're sorry. We were wrong to take Lisa's side, to be biased against you. We were scared and didn't know what was happening that night. We didn't mean to abandon you in the fire. We thought you died."
Xander knelt beside Max, and they both held my hands. I felt a dam break inside me, and tears flowed freely. Mason held me close, his arms a comforting embrace. When my tears dried, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. I chose to forgive them, to let go of the trauma and embrace them once more.
I looked up at Mason, and he smiled, nodding his head in understanding. I invited Max and Xander to visit me, to hang out with my friends, and they accepted. As we parted ways, one thought lingered in my mind: What will Leon's explanation be when we finally have that talk?
YOU ARE READING
Unraveling Letricia
Non-Fiction"Join Letricia on a heart-wrenching and uplifting journey of self-discovery as she unravels the threads of her past, present, and future. With unflinching honesty, she confronts the secrets, fears, and doubts that have held her back for so long. Fro...
