"A house made of cards, and us, inside."
3rd person
Her pupils dilated when Stephanie's apology flowed through her ears.
Did she really say it? Did she really?
Lydia swallowed a lump that quickly formed in her throat.
"W-what. . ."
Stephanie inhaled a deep breath, then wiped her face with the back of her hand.
"I am sorry."
Lydia gasped as her heart plummeted to her stomach.
"I'm sorry," Stephanie repeated, her voice strained. "I-I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Lydia wanted to say. "It's fine."
But, she didn't.
"I am not going to forgive you," Lydia said.
"I know," Stephanie nodded a little with a bitter grin.
"T-then?"
"I a-am just sorry that we ended up like this."
". . ."
And in that moment, Lydia and Stephanie will no longer see each other in the future.
Only in the past, with their bitter memories and their broken hearts.
