That One Mistake (ManxMan) Short Story #Wattys2017

Chapter #5| Moving on

Everything went in slow motion.

A little girl ran towards Gabriel.

I looked behind the little girl.

A woman who looked very familiar until everything clicks, emotions overwhelm me and look around where I am. I remember everything now, I remember the cause of misery and here I am all over again. Watching him to go to her, go to his wife and kiss her tenderly when I allowed him to kiss me.

"Look Daddy, I draw you a picture" she says. I stared at a complete younger image of Gabriel, she looked beautiful wearing a pink princess dress. I kneel down as she asked who I was, her innocent heart deserve to remain that way. She little thumb wipes my tears away and soon ran back to her mother.

"Go inside with Mommy, I'll be with you soon" Gabriel said to his daughter.

"It's good seeing you Nathan" said Emily. I looked behind me watching his wife and daughter enter my dream house. Why did her bother building this? We don't have a future together  and I knew we agreed on the plan before he met Emily, everything changed now.

"Please let me explain" he says. I laughed.

"Explain what Gabriel? Why did you bring me here, you didn't need to look after me and you could of called Marcus" I replied.

"That drug addict punk, as if I'll allow him to look after you" he replies. I don't get it, I don't understand his intentions.

"You didn't answer my question, why did you bring me here?" I asked.

"I wanted to make things right, I wanted to apologise for a long time and how pathetic I am realising my true feelings" he says.

"D-Don't go there Gabriel, you're a married man and a father. Don't give me false hope and stop lying." I replied. He sighed.

"Does she know?" I dared to ask. Gabriel went silent, I feel so physically and emotionally drained. I looked back at my dream home one last time, I still love him and I needed to let go in order to move on, I knew that long ago.

This time.

I'll listen.

For my happiness.

And his.

Time to let go.

And forget.

"Go to her, tell her how much you lover her Gabriel. Life is to short, mistakes are meant to be made but also repaired. You don't love me Gabriel, it's the guilt making you say that and now it's my time to love on, love you enough to let you go and be happy" I said

"Where will you go?" he asked

"Home" I replied. Thank you Gabriel for being a good friend to me, we made lost of mistakes we regret and make memories to cherish.

I pray you'll forgive me.

I pray for your happiness.

You belong with them.

Not with me.

I finally realise that now.

I forced my love and pain to you.

Nothing is your fault.

It's mine so don't apologise.

"We'll see each other one day, I promise you" I said to him.

"Emily is a lucky woman, make her happy and never let her go" I said. He promised to be a good husband and father and I believed him.

I turned back my back.

And walked away.

Alone.

All alone.