You could cut the tension with a knife.
Justin had frozen, staring at Georgia. His face had drained of all colour.
‘Justin,’ I said tentatively after a while.
I saw his Adam’s apple move as he gulped. ‘Hi Georgia.’ He said quietly.
‘I’ll uh, leave you two to it.’ I excused myself, trying to untangle my hand from Justin’s, but he wouldn’t let me go.
‘No. Stay, please.’ Justin glanced at me pleadingly and my gaze flickered over to Georgia. She nodded gently and I walked over to the sofa, opposite her, bringing Justin along with me, like a lost puppy.
I looked for Ryan but he wasn’t in the room. It was just the three of us. I kissed the back of Justin’s hand supportively but I’m not even sure if he felt it.
‘How have you been?’ Georgia broke the silence and Justin swallowed.
‘I’ve been fine.’ He answered.
‘Good.’ Georgia nodded and like a dam breaking, Justin’s mouth opened.
‘I’m so sorry. God, I’m so sorry Georgie, I… It’s all my fault, you, this, Jesus, I’ve never forgiven myself. I’m so sorry. I never should have let you get in the car. I never should have driven in the first place. God! It should be me, I should have been the one hurt like that, you didn’t deserve that. You don’t deserve this. I’m so sorry I ruined your life.’
Georgia waited patiently for Justin to finish, to let him get it all out. My heart ached for Justin, the raw pain and guilt in his voice was gut wrenching but I kept my gaze on Georgia, looking for a reaction, a good one a bad one, anything, but her face remained straight and devoid of emotion while Justin spoke.
‘I haven’t been called Georgie in such a long time.’ She said finally, a smile playing on the corners of her mouth.
‘Sorry, I don’t deserve to call you that anymore.’ Justin’s head dropped in shame and it took everything in me not to hug him and comfort him. That was not my place. I wasn’t involved so all I could do was sit back and watch.
‘It’s okay, Justin.’
‘What?’ Justin’s head snapped up, his eyes wide.
‘I’m not going to lie to you, Justin.’ Georgia said firmly. ‘I was angry at you for a long, a long, time. I hated you, for a long time I really did.’ Justin flinched as if she had hit him but Georgia didn’t miss a beat. ‘I was so angry at you, I blamed you for this. I couldn’t come to grips with any of it. My whole life, everything I thought that I would achieve was ripped away from me and I held you responsible.’
‘Georgie,’ Justin started but Georgia held up her hand and he fell silent.
