Andrew was now fully recovered and had been discharged from the hospital. Back at home, he rested comfortably in his bed while Michael attended to him with gentle care, feeding him lovingly and ensuring he was well taken care of.
The other boys, reflecting on their recent actions, were overwhelmed with guilt. Seeing Andrew's forgiveness towards Logan and witnessing his innocence and strength made them realize how wrong they had been. They felt a deep remorse for their behavior and understood the gravity of their mistakes.
The next morning, as Andrew continued to recover and Mr. Thompson and Mr. Harris went to work, the house was quieter with the guardians away. The boys were enjoying their vacation at home, and the atmosphere was one of subdued reflection.
The eldest boy approached Michael, his demeanor serious. "Michael, we need to talk to you. We're waiting downstairs," he said.
Michael, a bit puzzled and concerned, replied, "Okay, I'll be down after I check on Andrew." He made sure Andrew was comfortable and then headed downstairs to meet with the other boys, curiosity piqued about their request.
When Michael reached the downstairs area, the boys were gathered, their expressions a mix of nervousness and sincerity. The eldest boy stepped forward, clearing his throat.
"Michael," he began, "we've been talking, and we realized how wrong we've been. We're sorry for what happened with Andrew, and for everything else. We should have listened to you and kept our promises."
Another boy added, "We know we made mistakes, and we want to make things right. We want to show you that we're truly sorry and that we're committed to changing."
Michael listened intently, seeing the genuine regret in their eyes. The boys continued to express their remorse and promised to be more respectful and understanding moving forward. Their apology was heartfelt, and it was clear they were deeply affected by the recent events.
"I appreciate your apologies," Michael said, his voice steady. "I hope we can move past this and work towards being better to each other. Andrew's forgiveness was a big step, and I hope we all learn from this."
The boys nodded in agreement, relieved to have addressed their mistakes and hopeful for a more positive future. As Michael left them to return to Andrew, he felt a renewed sense of optimism. The path to healing was ongoing, but the willingness to change marked a significant step forward for everyone involved.
To be continued
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StarlitHearts
