Best Mistake ︱Pedri González

3

Pedri's POV

I knew that the argument with Esther needed to be addressed, but it was far from easy. We were married, and every unresolved issue felt like a heavy weight that we both carried.

I sat in the living room of our apartment, waiting for Esther to arrive. The silence was deafening, and I found myself pacing back and forth, trying to prepare for what was to come. When the knock finally came, I took a deep breath and opened the door.

Esther looked tired, her eyes red from a lack of sleep and worry. "Hey," she said softly. "Can we talk?"

"Of course," I replied, stepping aside to let her in. "Come on in."

We settled into the living room, sitting across from each other. The tension was palpable, and I could see that she was struggling with her emotions.

"I'm sorry about the other day," I began, trying to break the ice. "I didn't handle things well."

Esther shook her head. "No, it's not just that. I was angry too. I felt like you weren't being honest with me."

"I wasn't," I admitted, feeling the weight of my own guilt. "I should have told you what was really going on. The truth is, I've been struggling with everything—my performance, our relationship, and..."

"And Luciana?" Esther cut in, her voice trembling.

I looked down, unable to meet her eyes. "Yes. I've been having a hard time dealing with my feelings, and it's affecting everything."

Esther took a deep breath, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. "I know it's not easy, but we need to be honest with each other. I can't stand the secrets and the distance."

"I know," I said, feeling a pang of regret. "I should have talked to you about all of this instead of keeping it bottled up."

Esther looked at me, her expression softening. "I just want us to be okay. I know we've had our problems, but I still love you. I need to know if you still feel the same way."

"I do," I said, finally meeting her gaze. "I love you, Esther. But I also know that we have a lot to work through."

She nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. "I want to work through it, too. But we need to be honest and make an effort. I can't do this alone."

I reached out and took her hand, squeezing it gently. "We'll do it together. I promise."

We spent the next few hours talking things through, working to rebuild the trust that had been fractured. It wasn't an easy conversation, but it was necessary. We talked about our feelings, our fears, and our hopes for the future.

"I'm sorry for not being there for you," Esther said quietly. "I should have been more supportive."

"I'm sorry for pushing you away," I replied. "I've been so caught up in my own problems that I didn't realize how much I was hurting us."

As we talked, I could see the pain in Esther's eyes begin to fade, replaced by a sense of cautious hope. It wasn't a magic fix, but it was a step in the right direction.

When we finally finished talking, I felt a sense of relief. We still had a lot of work to do, but at least we were on the same page. We hugged each other tightly, and for the first time in days, I felt a glimmer of peace.

"Let's just... go to bed," I suggested, my voice tired but hopeful.

Esther nodded, her eyes still glistening with unshed tears. "Yeah, I think that's a good idea."

We moved to the bedroom in silence, each lost in our thoughts. As I stripped down and climbed into bed, I could feel the tension in my muscles starting to relax. Esther followed suit, slipping under the covers next to me. The softness of her presence beside me was comforting, a small reminder of the love we still shared despite our struggles.

"I'm really sorry for everything, Pedri," she whispered as she snuggled close.

"I am too," I replied, my voice gentle. "We both made mistakes, but we're here now, and that's what matters."

We lay there in the quiet of our bedroom, the only sound the soft hum of the city outside our window. I turned onto my side, facing Esther, and reached out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Esther, I know things have been tough," I said softly. "But I want us to be okay. I want to work through this, and I want us to come out stronger."

She looked up at me with a mixture of sadness and relief in her eyes. "I want that too, Pedri. I really do. But we need to communicate better. We can't let things fester like this."

I nodded, understanding the truth in her words. "I agree. We need to be more open with each other. I need to be better about sharing what I'm feeling."

Esther took a deep breath and leaned in, her forehead resting against mine. "Let's promise to work on that. To be honest and to make the effort to understand each other."

I nodded, my heart swelling with a mix of love and determination. "I promise."

We lay there in the darkness, our bodies close and our hearts slowly finding their rhythm again. The intimacy of the moment was a stark contrast to the tension of earlier. It was a reminder of the bond we had, despite the hurdles we faced.

Esther's hand found mine under the covers, and I felt her fingers intertwine with mine. It was a simple gesture, but it carried a depth of meaning. We were reconnecting, finding solace in each other after the storm.

As we lay there together, I couldn't help but reflect on the day's events. I had faced the reality of my own shortcomings and the impact they had on my marriage. It was a hard truth to swallow, but it was necessary for moving forward.

Esther's breathing gradually steadied as she fell asleep beside me. I lay there for a while longer, lost in thought but feeling a sense of peace that had eluded me for days. The journey ahead was still uncertain, but I felt more hopeful than I had in a long time.

With Esther's warmth beside me, I finally drifted off to sleep, resolved to face the future with honesty and a renewed commitment to my marriage. We had taken the first step towards healing, and while it wouldn't be easy, we were in it together.