📖Short Stories📖

💘Forgiveness💘

💘Forgiveness💘

"I don't think there's anything you could do that I couldn't forgive."
-Maxon Schreave: The Selection, Chapter 24

Forgiveness. It's like another facet of love, and a beautiful one too. It's so amazing it could make me cry. This story gives me all the feels.

When America and Maxon talk about Aspen (because we all know this needed to happen): Maxon's POV

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America and I were talking the
night away. Ever since I proposed, it was like we couldn't leave each other. And with everything we'd told each other in our months together during the selection, we learned twice as much about each other that day. We shared every hope, every dream, every experience we'd had in our entire lives. I felt like I got to meet my true love all over again.

After hours and hours of
talking, we got silent for a few minutes. America was leaning into me, and I had my arm wrapped securely around her. We probably would've stayed that way forever if it wasn't for what happened next. America sat up, turned her face to look at mine, and then quietly spoke. "Maxon?"

"Yes, America?" I asked
inquisitively, noting the worry in her voice.
She took a deep breath, and asked, "Can we talk? About-" she swallowed, and I gave her a concerned look. "Aspen?" I drew a breath, hesitating. "America, that is a very uncomfortable subject for me. And you don't need to tell me you're over him again, I believe you," I said solemnly.
"I know you do, and I know it's uncomfortable for you. It's uncomfortable for me too," she said, placing her fingers on her chest sadly. "But you deserve to know." I sighed, caving.
"And you deserve to explain."

"Thank you," she said.
After a few silent moments, I shrugged and replied, "Okay, so start telling." She took a deep breath and said, "Alright but you have to promise me one thing."
"Anything," I replied.
"Don't get mad," she said, with a nervous expression.
"I don't think I'll ever be able to stay mad at you," I said, causing her to grin a little.

She closed her eyes and
nodded, sighing. "He and I, well, we-" she hesitated. I'm sure she was very nervous, but I couldn't possibly be mad at her for this. I couldn't say it didn't hurt, but I knew she loved me now. I wanted it in the past just as much as she did. She'd already reminded me she was over him and apologized countless times, she just wanted to explain everything. She wanted a clean slate. She didn't want to tell me, but she wanted me to know. I could understand that.

"We met up secretly at the
palace. Several times. We talked, and we kissed and-" she had to stop. She looked down, breaking eye contact. She put her hands on her face like she was ashamed. A few seconds later, she looked back up with a few tears threatening to spill out of her eyes. She looked back at me. "I'm so sorry, Maxon," she whispered, and a tear fell down her cheek. I reached up to wipe it.
"It's okay dear," I said, truly not wanting her to be sad. She shook her head but took a deep breath and continued.
"We kept up these meetings for a while, and I felt terrible every time. I really did. I was gonna break it off for good after the Halloween party but then Marlee-"

she took another deep breath. "Well, you know," she finished, her voice cracking. I nodded. "You know the penny jar? And that little bracelet with the button? Those were from him." I had always been curious about that. "Where did they go?" I asked.
She smiled, "I left them at home. Where they belong." I smiled back and held her hand tightly. She continued, "I stopped meeting with him a while back, after I was sure I wanted you. I was going to tell him, but I didn't. You know, just in case, in case," she stuttered.
"In case I chose Kriss," I finished, and now it was my turn to be ashamed. I should've told America I loved her a long time ago. She nodded.

"Maxon?" she said quietly.
"Yes, America?" I asked again. "Do you think..." she swallowed, "Do you think you can ever forgive him?"
"Who?" I asked.
"Aspen," she replied sadly, choking back tears.

"America I-"
"Look I know he hurt you, but it was really all my fault. He just refused to give up, I was the one that wouldn't let go. I needed a backup plan in case you realized I wasn't good enough for you, and I was using him and I was a terrible person to both of you and, and, and," she was full on crying.
"Darling, please I-"
"And I know I lied to you and that's the worst thing I've ever done in my life but I promise I don't love him anymore and you have my whole heart and I, I-"
"I know America, I-"
"but I still care about him because we grew up together and he's like family to me, and he's a good guy really, and now he's gonna have to go to New Asia, and, and it's all my fault!" she covered her tear-stained face. "Please, can you just forgive him?"

"Darling, he's already forgiven,"
I finally got my chance to speak. She burst into tears again and fell into my open arms. "Shhh," I urged as she slowly calmed down.
"Thank you so much," she whispered. "Anything for you dear," I replied, embracing her. After a few quiet moments, America wiped away her tears. She pulled back and looked me in the eyes.
"What about me? Can you ever forgive what I did?" she asked. I couldn't believe how crazy and stupid her question was.
"America, darling. I'm not sure I was ever truly mad at you. I forgive you." She smiled, placing her hand gently on her chest. A few tears leaked out of her eyes and rolled down her cheeks as she blinked.

As she leaned into me I
started to wonder: how could she ever forgive me? "America, what about what I did? Shouldn't we address that?" "What did you ever do wrong, Maxon?" She asked.

"I nearly proposed to Kriss!" I
exclaimed. "How could you forget? I was a jerk and selfish to you, and I didn't even think about how it made you feel when I was with the other girls until I saw you with someone else. And I didn't defend you to my father enough. And I waited too long to tell you how I felt. And I let your best friend get caned for heavens sake! Maybe I didn't cause it, but I should've been more reluctant to punish them. I cared too much about what other people thought. If I would've fixed those mistakes, yours might not have even happened." I finished, and America sat there listening to my little rant, looking at me with her beautiful, kind eyes. I sounded enraged. It was terrible to think that all of that anger was directed at myself.

"Maxon Schreave," she
exclaimed, "I can't believe you think so little of yourself. Need I remind you of everything you did right?" she asked, poking me gently in the chest. "You have scars on your back and a bullet wound in your chest because you would rather die than see me in pain." I smiled, tears in my eyes. I'd never actually cried in front of America, or any other girl for that matter, but I was so close to tears right now that I might as well have been crying. She continued, "I see no reason to forgive you for anything." I took a deep breath, taking those words in. She really thought I did nothing wrong. I was truly touched.

"Thank you for that," I said
smiling. "But could you please say it out loud? It would make me feel so much better." She rolled her eyes but went on to say it anyway.
"I forgive you Maxon. For everything," she breathed. It felt like a weight was lifted off my chest. I put my hand on my heart and she did the same. I knew she felt the same way. I put my other hand on hers and felt her other hand move to my chest.

After staying like that for a
few seconds, we leaned into a tight hug. I never felt so safe as I did here in the arms of the woman I loved. Her lips were at my ear. "I love you so much," she whispered. I let a single happy tear drop down my cheek. We pulled back and she looked me in the eyes. She reached up and cupped her hand on my face, wiping my tear off with her gentle finger.
"I love you more," I said back. With that we leaned in for a kiss, and we didn't stop until we were out of air.