When All Is Said And Done

Chapter Five: A Long Night

The studio's interior, bathed in the soft glow of dimmed lights, felt like a world unto itself. The rustic, wooden interior, decorated with so much memorabilia felt like a trophy room of the past, Frida thought. Yet tonight, it wasn't the music that filled the air but the unresolved emotions which hung between Frida and Benny.

There they sat, facing each other, the space between them charged with unspoken words and lingering tension. The grand piano stood silent, it's keys a reminder of their shared past, a past now shrouded in hurt and regret.

As Frida extended her hand towards him, Benny reached out, his hand finding hers in a gesture both tentative and reassuring. His touch was warm, his hands soft and strong, a stark contrast to the cold knot of fear in her chest. Frida looked at Benny, her heart a tumultuous sea of emotions. His presence was so familiar and yet so distant. His face was framed with that same boyish charm and rugged good looks that she had always known. She took a deep breath and steadied herself on the support of his tender hand.

"Benny..." she began, her voice trembling, "I need you to understand something. Everything that happened all that time ago, it broke me. It took me a long time to piece myself back together, and even now, those pieces don’t fit the same way they used to."

"I know, Frida. And I began to hate myself for causing you that pain. I was a clueless fool who acted on a selfish impulse. I let my ego and my fears dictate my actions, and I lost the best thing that ever happened to me."

Tears welled up in Frida's eyes, blurring her vision. She squeezed Benny's hand, her voice breaking. "It’s not just about losing me, Benny. It’s about the trust that was shattered, the dreams that were crushed. You left me feeling like I was nothing to you. Was I really nothing to you?"

Benny's eyes filled with tears, his vulnerability laid bare. "You were always more than enough, Frida. It was me who wasn’t enough. I was insecure, afraid of failure, terribly so, until, I think, it became inevitable that all I could do with you is fail. But all it proved was how much of an idiot I was."

The raw honesty in his voice touched something deep within Frida, a part of her that still longed for the man she once loved. Her resolve wavered, but she knew she had to stand her ground. "Benny," she said, her voice thick with emotion, "I wake up every day with the weight of what you did to me. It’s a scar that hasn’t healed. And seeing you now, hearing you say these things...it’s overwhelming."

Benny's grip on her hand tightened, his own tears now filling his eyes. "I don’t expect you to forgive me overnight, Frida. I just want you to know how deeply sorry I am, and how much I want to make things right. Not for me, but for you."

The walls between them crumbled, leaving them both exposed and vulnerable. Frida’s tears spilled over, and in that moment, they were both crying, the years of pain and longing flowing freely. Benny moved from his chair and sat next to Frida. He pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms encircling her as if to shield her from any more hurt. She had missed how it felt to be in his embrace. Feeling his big arms wrapping around her in a cocoon of warmth and love.

I’m so sorry," he whispered into her ear softly, his voice choked with emotion. "I’m so, so sorry."

Frida clung to him, her body shaking with sobs. For the first time in years, she allowed herself to release the pent-up hurt and anger. They held each other, their tears mingling, a cathartic release of the pain that had haunted them both.

After what felt like an eternity, Benny pulled back slightly, his hands still holding her close. He looked at her, a mixture of sorrow and hope in his eyes. "You know," he said, his voice breaking the heavy silence, "I read somewhere that crying is good for the soul. Maybe we just added a few more years to our lives."