The Last Fall

Come And Talk To Me

CHERYL's POINT OF VIEW

"Why did we have to meet here?" Tony asked me as we were both sitting down at a table in a nearby coffee shop downtown.

"Because we don't need to be alone ever again." I said casually as we both held eye contact.

I watched as he then looked away from me, sighed and shifted in his seat.

"I forgot, Okay? Well, I didn't forget but...you and I both know that you don't want to be with him, Cheryl. Cut the bullshit. You said it to me that day! You told me and you said; "You know who it is that I really want." Did you not say that or something like that?" He asked me as I saw his eyes droop due to sadness.

I placed my hand on my forehead and fluttered my eyes a bit while I looked down at the table. All of this was making me feel lightheaded.

"I did...say that but it doesn't apply anymore. You're the one who told me to move on. Do you not remember that? Then, after you—" I said but I then stopped talking to look around the room to make sure nobody was in our area listening. "....fucked me..." I said in a low, harsh whisper. "...you then told me afterwards the next day that you were scared, Tony. You're the reason as to why I moved on. You pushed me away that day I was over your house. I wanted you!" I said as I then took a deep breath and started feeling a sense of nervousness come over myself. I was nervous just being in his presence because he knew what I wanted all along. Yet, he didn't wanna take that chance.

"Stop bringing that morning up. You and I both did that, okay? You wanted me and I wanted you. You didn't tell me to stop either beca—"

"Because you told me not to worry! You said that! I had no problem making love to you because I never stopped loving you, Tony. I never have and I don't even think that I never will. With you? I always tried to do right but I could-...I failed. I failed over and over and that morning, I wanted us to be better together. There was no Shemar. There was only you and I but you ran back to Carmen due to you being afraid.

After I spilled out my thoughts, it became silent between us.
Tony stared down at the table and lightly tapped his fingertips against it.

"I just want you to be happy. I never made you happy to the fullest and now, I see why you ran to him. I-...just seeing how he looks at you...and how he protects you. It's like, I could never do that. I tried to but throughout all the years we were married? I could never do it. I tried over and over and over again. I tried to figure it out and how to love you the best that I could but...he beat me to it. I knew that he had a crush on you but I knew that you didn't see it just yet. This was when we first got married. Actually, our wedding day. He and I spoke. I remember. He told me to protect you and to always hold you down how a man should hold a woman down. Even then...he knew you. He always knew you better than I did and I thought that it was just because he was your best friend. However, I thought that if I became your husband, I'd know you even more. Yet, I was wrong. I was way wrong. He knew you better. He knew but I just don't know how he didn't know that you were lying to his face about our child being his. I guess he was so hung up on hope....
Hope that he would finally be given something that would reflect the two of you mixed together." He said as he continued to stare at the table. Next, he took a deep breath and nodded his head. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for failing you as a husband and not putting in the effort. I'm not perfect and you know this. We both aren't. Just know that I made a mistake. I'm not scared anymore and if he messes up even one time...you know where to find me." He said as he slowly stood up from his chair. He looked down at me. "Nobody is perfect. Not even best friends. Not even Shemar. Also, I'll pick up the kids after work. All of them. You can have them all the day afterwards but I just wanna spend some time with them." Tony said finally as he tapped the table lightly, I nodded my head and watched him as he started walking away.