Love Fragile Threads

The Confession

Chapter 2

I stayed up unable to fall asleep. My secret seemed like an anchor dragging me down into a turbulent void. My mind racing with a thousand ideas, I fixed my gaze on the ceiling as the shadows moved in the low light. Though all I felt was fear, tomorrow was meant to be the best day of my life.

Quietly slipping out of bed, I took great care not to wake Amy. She was sound asleep, her face calm and lovely under the moon. Though the weight of my treachery was crushing me, I couldn't stand to think of hurting her. To sort out this problem, I had to chat to Felicia.

My heart thumping, I headed to the living room. I grabbed my phone, paused, then dialled Felicia's number. It rang twice before she spoke, just a whisper.

"Christopher, it late. What's mistaken?"

"We have to talk," I murmured, trying to keep my voice steady. " Would you kindly come over? Currently?

The other end stopped as well. "I will be there twenty minutes."

I moved across the living room, the apartment's silence enveloping me. I hurried to open the doorbell when it did at last ring. Standing there, Felicia looked exactly as nervous as I did. She came inside, and we both sat on the couch, clearly tense.

Breaking the quiet, "Felicia, we can't keep this from Amy," I remarked. "It is killing me right now. We have to explain it to her.

Tears clouded Felicia's eyes. "Christopher, I know. How then? How should we approach her with something that would crush her heart?

I shook my head, weighty with remorse. "I am not sure. We cannot, however, let this continue. It's unfair to her.

Felicia stared down, her hands shaking. Her voice hardly audible, she whispered, "There's something else you need to know." " I am pregnant."

The room seemed to whirl about me. Nausea washed over me, my heart falling into my gut. "What?" Are you absolutely sure?

Tears running down her face, she nodded. " Yesterday I took the test. I am sure.

My head whirled. It cannot be occurring this way. Not like this, not right now. Again, my voice sharp this time: "We have to tell Amy." "She merits knowing the truth."

Felicia gazed at me, her eyes dark. "I understand. Still, how? How can we explain it without ruining her?"

"We'll work it out," I answered, trying to project more assurance than I felt. But we cannot hide this any more.

I woke up the next morning feeling as though catastrophe was just about to strike. Though it felt like the end of the earth, today was meant to be our wedding day. Amy was already up, whirling about the room with a great smile on her face.

She said brightly, "Good morning, sleepyhead," kissing my cheek here. " big day today!"

My heart hurting at her delight, I faked a grin. "Yeah, big day," I said, sounding empty.

Amy sc wrinkled, feeling something was odd. "Are you good, Christopher? You seem to be somewhat unfocused.

Knowing this was the moment, I drew a long breath. " amy, we have to chat.

Her smile vanished, then she looked worried. "What's it? What is incorrect?"

I murmured, "Let's sit down," guiding her to the couch. "Something I have to tell you."

Amy took a seat, worry large in her eyes. "You're scaring Christopher, right? What's going on?"

Heart pumping, I grabbed her hands in mine. " Amy, more than anything in this life, I love you. And since I love you, I have to be honest with you. You should know something here.

Tears swelled in her eyes. "What's it?"

My throat dry, I battled to find the words. "Something happened the evening of my bachelor party. Something dreadful. Amy, I made a mistake here. a really big error. I shared a bed with Felicia.

Her face turned white and she drew her hands away from mine. She murmured, "What?" her voice breaking. "How might you?"

Tears washing down my face, I whispered, "I'm so sorry, Amy." "I never intended to hurt you. It was a horrible mistake, one of which But more still. Felicia—she is expecting.

Amy shook her head as her eyes grew wide. She got up. Not number. This cannot be happening. There is nothing real about this.

With shaky voice, "It's real, Amy," I said. "I understand I have broken your confidence; you are not likely to pardon me. You needed to know the truth, though."

She stared at me, her eyes hurt and betrayed. "How would you treat me? To us, then? I came to trust you, Christopher. I adored you."

"I love you too, Amy," I said helplessly. "More than anything else." And I detest myself for what I have done. I could not, however, conceal this from you. You are due to know the truth.

Tears pouring down her face, Amy looked aside. " Christopher, I am not fit for marriage. not following this. I need time to consider things.

My heart hurting, I answered, "I understand." "Take always the time you need. I will be here and waiting. I will go to great lengths to right this."

She ignored me, went away and leaving my world collapsing around me. Feeling sadness and hopelessness, I watched her go.

The hours passed in a haze, my confession weighing on me. Although I felt I had done the right thing by telling Amy, losing her hurt nearly intolerable. Though I tried to keep myself occupied, my thoughts kept returning to her and I wondered whether she would ever be able to forgive me.

My phone buzzed just as the sun was lowering. Amy's text said, "We have to discuss. Come see me at the park.

As I headed to the park—the venue of my anticipated proposal to her—my pulse surged. Her back to me she was standing beside the water. Uncertain of what to anticipate, I moved gently.

"Amy," I replied gently, "I'm here."

Red from crying, she turned to face me. "Christopher, I have been considering all of this. Regarding us and what you did."

My heart hammering, I prepared for the worst. Then?

Her voice shaky, she replied, "And I've realized that I can't just throw away everything we've built." "But I also cannot simply pardon and go on. Time is going to be needed. a lot of time.

Relief sweeping over me, I answered, "I understand." " amy, I will do whatever it takes. I will be here wherever.

She nodded and dropped her gaze to the ground. "One more thing exists." I would like to see Felicia. We should discuss what comes next."

Though I knew it was important, my stomach turned at the prospect. " Alright. We will sort this out together.

I sensed optimism glistening as we stood there with the sun setting behind us. Though the path ahead would be long and challenging, for the first time I thought perhaps, just perhaps, we might be able to mend the delicate strands of our love.

The next day, Amy and I ran across Felicia in a little café. The air was dense with unspoken emotions, the mood tight. Felicia seemed tense, her eyes straying between Amy and myself.

" amy," Felicia started, her voice faltering, noI apologies for what happened. I never meant to hurt you. I made a horrible mistake; I was drunk and dumb."

Amy stared at her sister, her face inscrutable. "This goes beyond Felicia, not just about you. It relates to each of us. We belong to a family. And currently, a baby is involved.

Felicia nodded, tears springing to her eye. "I understand. And I want to own my behavior. I don't want to sour your connection, but either."

Amy inhaled deeply, her gaze focused with will. "We have to work out a plan for moving ahead. Neither quick nor simple it will be. Still, we had to give it a go. For the benefit of our family and for the newborn.

I was suddenly quite appreciative of Amy's fortitude and will. She is correct. No matter how challenging it could be, we had to figure out how forward we might proceed.

I grabbed Amy's hand in mine as we exited the café and felt a sliver of hope. Ahead the road would be difficult, full with grief and challenges. Together, though, we could negotiate the delicate strands of our love and maybe, with time, heal what had been damaged.