The Last Fall

Forgiven 🖤

TONI's POINT OF VIEW

"You and Shemar know damn well you two need to stop this. Keep in mind that this isn't the counselor in me talking, okay? This is your friend. So, a friend to a friend? Let that shit go, Peps," I told Cheryl as her and I sat by the small lake in my backyard.

The sky was a deep blue and the clouds seemed as if they wanted all the attention that they could get. A sweet pine cone smell brewed through the air and drifted amongst the fuzzy lake water which held lilly pads floating atop the water.

It was silent and the houses around my very own- they came here to get the same thing I was looking for; silence and peace.

The city was too loud for me and that's why I went deeper into the state of New York to find something better fitting for myself.

"I know that we do..." Cheryl told me as she stared out at the lake. A few strands of her hair blew in the wind and it also made her eyes flutter a bit.

"Don't you love him?" I calmly asked her as I looked at the left side of her face and lightly smiled to myself.

"I do but-..."

"But what, Cheryl?"

She then sighed and looked down at the ground.

"I don't know what I'm doing, Toni. I keep feeling like I'm forcing things or something. What if I'm not even supposed to be with Shemar? What if Tony is who I'm supposed to be with instead?"

"And why would Tony be the one that you're supposed to be with instead?" I asked her as I crossed my legs.

Still looking at the ground, she shook her head and lightly huffed.

"I-...I'm not sure..." she answered me.

"Cheryl, you're missing the big part of the picture, sweetheart. The only reason you keep fuckin' around with Tony is because you want to do what's right for your kids. I can feel you on that one but Tony just ain't it. You can't keep throwing yourself into a relationship just because it would make your kids happy. What about your happiness?"

"What about it? Every time I try to become happy with Shemar- some shit like this happens. It's like Shemar is just-...he likes hurting my feelings."

"You both are guilty of that..."

"What do you mean?" She asked me with confusion in her voice. "I don't do things just to hurt him. He should've known that the video was gonna get out somehow. Plus, he went on that stupid show and made the situation even worse. He doesn't know what he's doing,"

"Cheryl, the both of you have hurt each other tremendously but you've got to stop being so upset with him. So what people saw. At least people know you're getting some of that good good. So, fuck it. Talk to Shemar and tell him that you forgive him. At this point, that's the words that he needs to hear, okay? Say you forgive him, huh him and leave. Don't have sex to make up either. He doesn't deserve that just yet. Just let him know that you forgive him. Can you do that?"

"I guess so. I mean, I am kinda tired of being upset with him..."

"...you miss him don't you?" I asked as I tilted my head and looked at her.