Her Awakening

Chapter 25: To Fresh Starts

It had been four days since the charity ball, and Melissa was still sleeping in the guest room. But her heart felt lighter than it had in months, maybe even years. Since reconnecting with Jalal, she had stopped pretending—stopped forcing smiles and faking her way through life. They spoke on the phone every day, his voice grounding her, pulling her out of the haze that had clouded her thoughts for so long.

For the first time in ages, Melissa had started writing again. Words flowed from her like a floodgate had opened, and she found comfort in the creativity she had once loved. The mask she had worn for so long had finally slipped, revealing the woman she had forgotten existed.

Today was a big day. After the night of the gala, things had calmed between her and Joshua. He had long since apologised for his behaviour, and the tension that had hung over them like a dark cloud had started to dissipate. She had invited him to meet her at the park near their old secondary school—the place where they used to hang out with Emma after school, back when they were inseparable. The setting was deliberate. Nostalgia had a way of softening difficult conversations, and Melissa wanted this one to be as gentle as possible.

They both needed closure.

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The afternoon sun bathed the park in a golden light as Melissa laid out the picnic blanket. She'd packed a basket full of their favourite foods: jollof rice, grilled chicken, fried plantain, and meat pie . Joshua arrived shortly after, looking casual in a white t-shirt and jeans, his tall, lanky frame instantly familiar, yet distant in a way that hadn't always been the case.

"Wow, a picnic," Joshua remarked with a slight smile as he sat down on the blanket. "No fruit or sandwiches?"

"This is an African picnic," Melissa jokes back, passing him a plate. "And plantain's technically a fruit."

"Yeah, if there's plantain involved, I'm here for it," Joshua joked, grabbing a piece. "But... I think I know why we're here."

Melissa nodded, her heart heavy but ready. "Yeah, it's time."

They ate in silence for a few minutes, both of them watching the children playing in the park nearby. The breeze was warm, and for a brief moment, it almost felt like old times—before everything had become so complicated.

Joshua broke the silence first. "I've been thinking a lot since the ball."

Melissa stayed quiet, giving him space to speak.

"I was selfish, Mel," he admitted, his voice low. "I think I knew it a long time ago, but I didn't want to admit it. I was holding on to you, to us, because it was safe. You've always been the one thing in my life that made sense."

Melissa exhaled softly, unsurprised but still moved by his honesty. "I get it, Josh. I really do. But holding on isn't fair to either of us."

Joshua looked up, meeting her eyes. "No, it wasn't. And I didn't want to face the fact that my heart wasn't fully here anymore. I thought I could have both. You... and Emma."

Melissa bit her lip, feeling the sting at the mention of Emma, but she pushed through it. "And did you? Did you have both?"

He shook his head, a rueful smile playing on his lips. "No. I lost you in the end, didn't I?"

She nodded, her voice soft. "I think you knew the risks when you started seeing her again."

Joshua sighed, rubbing a hand over his beard. "Yeah... I did. But I didn't know what to do. A future with Emma... it's not certain. It's messy. But you... you were stable. Grounded. The perfect wife who gave me two beautiful children. I thought I could hold on to that, even if it wasn't right."