Can’t let you go

Ivory’s breath caught in her throat. She had waited years to hear those words, but now that they were spoken, they felt hollow, like an apology long overdue.

She was unable to reconcile his words with the pain she had lived through.

“I…” her voice faltered, “You can’t even imagine how much I wanted an explanation, Arlo. I came up with so many reasons as to why you did what you did…” Her hand gently brushed his grip away, as she turned to face him.

“I couldn’t understand any of them, not even the one you’re giving me now.”

Arlo’s chest frightened as he rose from the bench, stepping closer to her.

“I can’t let you go…” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Ivory scoffed painfully, her eyes searching his face. “Willis is right, you haven’t changed Arlo. You’re still inconsiderate and blindly persistent.”

“Willis knows nothing, Ivory!” Arlo fired, his voice growing desperate. “He is not the judge of my character. I’ve changed, I swear.”

Ivory shook her head, biting her lip as tear