As Eric grew visibly more tense, a repeat of their previous tragic confinement seemed imminent. Caroline decided not to push him further. She had already rehearsed this scenario before and didn't want to ruin everything right now.
"But Eric, I've forgiven you." Caroline's voice softened.
Eric hadn't expected Caroline to deliver such a response. He had just sunk into the anxiety of losing her.
But her "forgiveness" washed over him, instantly cooling the heated frenzy within him.
He stared at her, motionless like a sculpture.
Her gentle hands cradled his face as her bright doe eyes fixed on him. "Eric, I accept all of you, including the darkest parts of your heart. But you have to promise me not to do this again. Can you do that?"
The second step in therapy was helping the patient beli
