Emma stared into her coffee, the steam swirling up like her chaotic thoughts. Liam sat across from her, his fingers tapping nervously against the table. "We need to talk," she finally said, breaking the silence that had stretched too long. "Yeah, we do," he agreed, his voice barely above a whisper.
Emma took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "I know about her, Liam," she confessed, her eyes meeting his with a mix of hurt and accusation. Liam flinched, his face paling as he opened his mouth to respond, but no words came. "I was going to tell you," he finally managed, his voice cracking.
Emma shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "When, Liam? When were you going to tell me? After you'd decided which of us you wanted?" Liam reached across the table, desperation in his eyes. "It was a mistake, Emma. It didn't mean anything," he pleaded, but the words seemed to hang lifelessly between them.
Emma pulled her hand back, wrapping her arms around herself as if to ward off the chill of betrayal. "I don't know if I can trust you again," she said, her voice barely audible over the rain. Liam slumped back in his chair, the fight leaving him. "I love you, Emma," he said, but the words felt hollow.
Emma looked out the window, watching the droplets race down the glass. "I need time, Liam. Time to think," she finally said, her voice steady but resolute. Liam nodded, understanding that this was not an end, but a pause. "Take all the time you need," he replied, his voice filled with a quiet determination to wait.
Emma stood, gathering her things with a new resolve. Liam watched her, hope mingled with fear in his eyes. "Goodnight, Liam," Emma said softly, before turning and walking out into the night. Liam remained seated, staring at the empty chair across from him, knowing that the path to redemption would be long and fraught with challenges.
