HOW CAN I FORGET YOU

Chapter 10

Edith Pov...

My anxiety has been killing me slowly ever since I saw Margaret. Her resentful and disgusting look at me was terrifying. I felt I was already in hell electrocuted.

There's still hope in them if I will start to act now. Everything my life had six years ago was lies. Stefano will misunderstand me as well, the price of my deeds.

It's not that I wanted to distance myself from him. Maybe it's time to put space between us now that Margaret is back. Margaret misunderstood everything already and it's agonizing to see her shooting daggers at me every time we see each other and it is suffocating to see Stefano getting hurt. I would let Jack take my part most of the time.

I don't care if Margaret will hate me for the rest of my life if that will fix what is broken. I'm looking forward to them seeing what is kept unspoken.

Margaret resented me so much that I could feel her anger emitting without speaking. Her stare was venomous enough to know where I belonged. All I want is for them to find happiness and peace in their hearts. I don't like Stefano, I love him as my colleague and friend. I want to tell Margaret but she is fixated on believing I stole her man. Pushing through will not help but heap the misunderstanding.

"Edith, are you avoiding me? Did I do something wrong to get your punishment as well?" Stefano beamed melancholy, entering my office.

"Oh hi there Stefano!" I beep smiling. He is not just unwell and depressed, but downcast and miserable in the morning. I feel terribly sorry and can't stand this.

"What! I asked you to come the other night but you didn't and last night you didn't come to our house. Mom invited you for dinner." He complained, seeking answers. This is how it works for now, since his memories aren't fully back yet and we kept the news away from him.

"Avoiding is a strong word, Stefano. I'm just busy and I have a life as well. We see each other here in the office." I reasoned out. He sighed, sitting and grabbing some magazines, flipping them without reading the content. Just making himself busy at the moment, but I can see he is still tormented seeing Margaret with someone. I will work with that and I will find out who that man is. The least I can do since Margaret shunned me.

"Do you know Margaret cheated on me?" He suddenly asks. I stopped typing and looked at him. Why is he accusing Margaret?

"No! And as far as I know, she didn't cheat on you. Why did you ask?" I asked, wondering where he was heading.

"Are you sure, Edith? She is your long-lost best friend and now that she's back she is with someone else!" He uttered, gnashing his teeth and clenching the magazine tightly.

"I am her best friend, yes, but cheating, as far as I know, she didn't. Whatever you see is not like what you think. Five years have passed and no one knows what she went through just like you. Maybe you two need to set aside your differences and talk, at least it will clear your assumptions." I tried to explain clearly. If they keep on doing this, they are just hurting themselves.

"Maybe, but she refuses to talk to me and I saw her with a man in a restaurant happily talking to each other like nothing had happened. This is the reason why she runs away and pushes me away. I just want answers and she is fine to do whatever she does." He muttered, trying to be strong and not hurt, but the pain in his eyes was evident and it was hurting me.

How can I help them? What should I do? Maybe it's time to tell him the truth and let time help him remember what he is missing. He needs to know that his accident was the cause of everything and what we had was a f*cking misunderstanding ruing my friendship with her.

"Maybe it's time for you to know the truth. We can't wait for you to remember what exactly happened, but at least I will clear my conscience, Stefano. I'm sorry for not letting you know sooner." I started. I know it wasn't the best idea as I promised his parents to wait for him to remember freely, but we can't live like this. I did nothing wrong and just wanted everything to be back like before. I miss my friend and everything, but I can't even have the chance to see her.

"What do you mean?" He asked seriously. I cleared my throat and swallowed hard before starting to tell everything. I'm startled when he knocks on the table loudly.

"Stefano!" I muttered a bit scared. His furious face and clenched fist is the first time I saw since he woke up and thought Margaret had cheated on him. He kicked the table again and punched harder. I shivered, scared, hugging myself, looking at him mouth agape, scared.

"Don't Stefano me, Edith! You still have a choice to tell me the truth but you decided to keep it yourself. How will I face Margaret thinking she cheated on me and why did you not tell her?" He turns the page on me mad. I didn't blink, accepting partly my fault, but God knows I tried to tell her.

"I did!" I retorted. He looked at me in disbelief.

"Then I guess it's not enough, Edith. Of all the people who will talk to her is you! You knew all along but you didn't try your best. You were our best friend!" He lamented.

"Stefano, I'm trying my best but Margaret is already blind since she ran away six years ago." I explained. He kicked the table again, deflated and hopeless. If Margaret would just lend an ear to us! If she would.

"Maybe because she really cheated on me! Why not listen if she is not guilty? Okay!" He seriously lamented.

"I'm sorry!" I sighed, gloomy, just like the weather outside.

He sighed deeply as well before walking out of my office. I wanted to chase him but it was not my turn. Letting go of him and working with his emotions is the best for now. Babysitting will not help him.

Time to grow up! Protecting him was over!