Chapter 32: Chapter 32

PARDON

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ZOEY’S POV

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The moment I set my eyes on Caleb, memories of our time together came back with full force. He was the kindest and most generous man I've ever met. He had treated me with so much respect and love when we were dating, our relationship was envied and complemented by our peers in school. Everyone said our match was made in heaven, unfortunately, I turned it into a nightmare.

As I stood before him in what I believed was his home, I came face to face with what I had lost due to my negligence and lack of self-control. Would I blame Philip, never? It was my fault, my grievous fault, I wanted to eat my cake and still have it. I belittled the most precious person I had because he wasn't wild as I was. I feel so stupid.

Caleb looked so different, he had matured not just physically but everything about him spoke of growth. He appeared wealthy, collected, calm, and attractive. What used to be mine stood so close yet so far, within my reach but never to be mine again.

Holding hands had been our thing while we dated and as I stood in his beach house I wanted so badly to have him hold my hands and take me back. However, the look of disgust in his eyes when he saw me caused me great shame. He must probably be thinking of the night he saw me and Philip naked in his flat.

Caleb said he had forgiven me but I don't know if he said it just to dismiss me or if he genuinely had pardoned me for what I did to him. Looking back, I hurt him in more ways than one. I almost destroyed his life and I was supposed to be his girlfriend, his backbone.

Most times we don't know what we have got until we lose them, that is just what had happened to me, I did not value Caleb, nor did I respect our relationship. Now I have lost him forever. I felt the tears slip down from my eyes and down the trail of my cheeks, I impatiently wiped it off with the back of my hands, at least he had not sent me away into the night, he was compassionate enough to let me stay here till tomorrow, I intended to apologize again in the morning before I left, but I slept off and when I woke up, he was gone.

“You mean he left,'' I asked the young man with sunny hair who had graciously woken me up.

“Yes, but he left a message for you.”

Wide-eyed, I waited for him to spill, surprised by it all.

“Your breakfast is ready, eat and when you are through, you can relieve yourself and freshen up, the bathroom is over there.” He pointed towards a door. “There are some clothes in the wardrobe if you need to change.”

“Thank you,” I whispered and did as I was told.

The meal was surprisingly delicious and I was amazed at how hungry I was, but a certain pain tugged at my heart. In my stupidity, I had also destroyed my life. The healthy meal pointed this out to me as I barely survived on oats most mornings, I had to ration my meals to save the little money I had on me. The bath afterward soothed my aching and tired bones. Afterward, I went to the closet and was slack-jawed by the arrays of beautiful clothes on display. I chose a pair of black jeans ripped at the knees and a red shirt. It fitted perfectly, then I went to the living room and waited for Kenneth.

He came in moments later and handed me a file. “A lawsuit.” I thought, my heart throbbed harder, they say every action has a consequence, I feared I would never stop paying for my crime.

“Open it.” He instructed me. My hands shook as I could feel my face perspire, but I did as I was told.

The tears flowed uncontrollably, as I read the content of the file, Caleb had given me a second chance, a new lease to life.