I'M SORRY

Jack stood up abruptly, staring at Mariam. This confession was pressing on his chest, he needed to get it out, and it had to be now.

"Hey!" Jack called out.

Mariam looked up, her expression soft yet curious. They had just gotten back together. After the romance and the relief of being reunited, the last thing she wanted was more drama. She could sense his agitation but wasn’t ready for more problems.

"Jack, what’s this about? Can’t it wait? We’ve just made up. Let’s not spoil this moment," she said, her tone gentle but firm.

Jack shook his head. "No, Mariam, it can’t wait. I need to get this off my chest. You don’t know how much it’s been eating at me. I can't keep holding onto this anymore."

Mariam sighed. "Jack, if it’s something from the past, leave it there. We’ve both moved on from the mistakes. Do we need to drag up more things that’ll only hurt us?"

Jack clenched his fists, the words he had been rehearsing in his head now stumbling over themselves. He had to tell her. "Mariam,