After the "CUT!"

Sins

People kept on telling her that she deserved better; that she is a strong intelligent woman who should never settle for anything less; but she never listened.

So now she's here, wandering, and lost - literally and figuratively.

Maine just felt more stupid than she already was, 'Who gets lost in a mall?' she thought to herself.

'Maybe this is destiny telling me not to go through this. Maybe I'm lost because I should not be doing this.'

Maine's been to this mall countless times before, but to be fair it has been years since the last one. No wonder everything is very unfamiliar to her.

But she's stubborn, and she needs closure.

And she maybe irritated and tired. Her feet may or may not be aching, and she may or may not be close to just giving up - but again, she needs closure.

She's just looking for one shop, one coffee shop really and it already took her one and a half hour just going around in circles.

'This is destiny speaking Menggay, do not go through with this. Turn your back, you still have time. You're still lost, so just stay lost.' goes her internal monologue. And she almost listened, until she found herself standing in front of the cafe she was looking for.

'Looks like destiny cannot make up her mind as well.'

Maine went in the cafe just to find it almost full, 'Ok, full house. No table, I should turn my back.' but there is one empty table, 'or not.'.

She took it and sat down, looking lost and nervous – exactly how she is feeling right now.

'I shouldn't have come. This is not right.' Maine looked at her watch and saw that she still has 10 minutes to turn her back, 10 more minutes to let this all go. "I really shouldn't be here."

"You are probably right, but I'm really glad you did." It happened so fast, Maine did not notice him until he was there standing by her side.

Maine has been avoiding him for years now, and she's been successful... so seeing him now is like seeing him again for the first time.

"Can I sit?" he said pointing at the empty chair in front of her. Without waiting for her answer, he put down his tray and sat in front of her.

"I ordered you your favourite, I hope it still is."

And then silence. Maine can't believe that this is happening, she can't believe she's here and actually doing this. She shouldn't be doing this.

Years of silence, and absence is not enough to forget. Forget what was lost, and what can never be again.

She looked down, grabbed her purse and started to stand up. But he was faster, he was always faster, he grabbed her hand, "Please stay", he said.

Maine wanted to go away, walk away. But her heart is screaming for her to stay, stay and listen, stay because she didn't years ago. And this time she stayed.

Anyway, there should be nothing wrong with sharing a table with an old acquaintance, right?

'It would just be a catching up with each other over a cup of coffee thing. Some sort of closure that we both needed.', that's what he said.

'It would be harmless.', that's what she thought.

How Maine wished both of them were right then.

But they started reminiscing, going back to the past, talking about unchartered territories.

And the memories, good and bad, came back all at once. Maine was shocked by its intensity.

The supposed to be harmless chit-chat reared its head into something dangerous, yet exciting at the same time.

And those five words that made up one question, broke every virtue that Maine used to believe in.

"Do you still love me?"

And those three words that made up one answer, made Maine the worse person she could ever be.

"Yes, I do."

And in that hour where there should only be closure, one big decision was made, and a much more bigger mistake was committed.

But Maine did not regret anything that happened thatday, and night rather.

//

AN: Sort of prequel to the Fire and Ice entry. I'm not sure if you will be able to connect it, but this can stand alone too.

I'm not sure too if this meets Day 5 prompt... but this is how I interpret it.

Prompt: Empty chairs and empty tables.