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October, 1994
Valerie leaned back against the plush sofa in the living room of The Velvet Reverie’s sprawling Los Angeles home, a wine glass dangling loosely in her hand. The house was alive with energy again, echoing with laughter and the faint strum of a guitar coming from the den. It felt like stepping into a time capsule, yet everything was slightly different. She was different after her break up with David.
March, 1993
The sky was unusually grey for Los Angeles, a rare hush blanketing the city like it somehow understood what was about to unfold.
Valerie stood in the living room of the house she and David had once called their haven. The same house where Vivienne had taken her first steps, where David composed most of his latest album, where they’d spent countless quiet nights wrapped in one another’s silence. But lately, that silence had become heavy. Too much was left unsaid. Too much had already unraveled.
David appeared at the top of the stairs, his footsteps slow, deliberate. He looked tired, but not surprised. He had seen this coming. The release party weeks ago had been the beginning of the end—even if Valerie hadn’t realized it then. She hadn’t stopped replaying Nick’s words since: “You love John. You need to end this with David before it becomes cruel.”
She didn’t feel cruel. She felt broken.
David reached the last step, looking at her like he already knew what was coming.
“Do you want tea?” he asked softly, almost kindly.
Valerie blinked back tears, her throat tight. “No. Thank you.”
He nodded and walked past her to sit on the couch. She followed, perching nervously at the far end. They sat in silence for a moment, the air heavy with history.
David broke it first. “You’ve been distant. Not in the distracted way—more like you’ve been elsewhere entirely.”
“I haven’t meant to be.”
“I know,” he said gently. “That’s the thing with you, Val. Even when you’re leaving, you’re trying to be kind about it.”
Her chin quivered, and she looked down at her hands. “I’ve tried to fix this. I swear I’ve tried. I’ve wanted it to work. You’re the most generous person I’ve ever loved.”
