Chapter 18 - The Apology That Arrived Too LateGarrett set his heavy stack of delivery boxes down on a nearby concrete bench, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.
"Look, Maya... I know we don't talk," Garrett began, his voice dropping into a raspy, humbled tone that I had never heard during our marriage. "And I know I can't undo what I did. But... I’m sorry. Truly."
I stood still, listening without interrupting.
"After the court case," Garrett continued, looking down at his worn shoes, "everything collapsed. My mom's house... Tabitha's business... my job. For months, I blamed you. My mother kept telling me you were evil, that you set us up."
He shook his head with a bitter laugh.
"It took six months of court-ordered counseling and working twelve hours a day on my feet to realize my mother was wrong. And I was an idiot. You gave me four years of your life, a beautiful home, and complete trust. And I let my family treat you like a cash register."
I looked at him for a long moment. Four years ago, I would have killed for this apology. I would have cried, held his hand, and tried to fix everything.
Now, listening to his words, I realized something profound: an apology from the person who broke you cannot rebuild you. You have to rebuild yourself.
"Thank you for saying that, Garrett," I said, my voice gentle but completely firm. "I appreciate the honesty. But it doesn't change where we are."
"I know," he whispered. "I don't expect you to take me back or anything. I just... I wanted you to know that I finally see it."
"I'm glad you see it," I replied, taking a step toward the crosswalk as the pedestrian signal turned white. "It will help you build a better life for yourself going forward."
"Goodbye, Maya," he said as I stepped off the curb.
May you like
"Goodbye, Garrett."
I walked across the street without turning back once.
