A10. An Understanding

Happily Never After... Prose 10

“I might have overreacted,” thought a tired Justin for the millionth time, while sipping his coffee at a deserted coffee shop. He had gotten into a massive fight with Amber over a silly thing. He saw her hugging her best friend, Richie, and got jealous. It turned into a nasty fight and Justin stormed out of there to cool off at that coffee house.

Sighing, he stared at his half-drunk cup of coffee. Of course, he overreacted. He should have shown at least a little more trust and maturity to Amber. They had been together for more than five years. They were more than just a couple, they were soulmates. They understood each other in ways no one else ever could. One was able to cheer the other up when the whole world had lost hope. One was the reason the other smiled from ear to ear. They more than just loved each other; They lived for each other.

Knowing he had messed up, Justin stood from his table and made his way back home to Amber. He was about to ring the bell but remembered he had his key and opened the door. As soon as he got in he wished he had rung the bell. There stood Amber locked in the sweetest kiss with none other than Richie. Amber pulled away with regretful eyes which soon turned into ones filled with pure horror on seeing Justin. 

Justin was more than just heartbroken; He was shattered. It felt like he was burned alive; Destroyed. Amber tried to go closer but Justin ran away again. For days Amber went around his house, begging him to forgive her. She tried to tell him that she had made a mistake and it didn’t mean anything to her. After weeks of persuasion, Justin decided to take her back. But things weren’t the same as before.

Justin wouldn’t be nice to her. He would say mean things and never take her close to him to comfort or love. Amber felt miserable but was certain she deserved it and therefore suffered through it. Hurting her made Justin happy in a cruel way.

One day, Richie came up to Justin’s house to talk to him, but Justin didn’t give him his full attention. Losing his patience, Richie came between him and the door and yelled at him, “You know what? You don’t deserve her! I know what she-what we did was wrong and she feels awful. But she doesn’t deserve this treatment! Even after your horrible behavior, all she can talk about is you! And I cannot see her in this condition! What have you done to my Amber?” He broke down. Justin just stared at him while recollecting all the bad things he did to Amber. What she did was wrong but the way he reacted wasn’t right either. He broke his Amber. The love of his life Amber. 

“Do you love her?” asked Justin plainly. Richie didn’t bother looking at him before nodding. After a long silence, Justin said, “You can have her.” “What?” said an awestruck Richie. “Yes. After what happened, I don’t think I can treat her as well as she deserves. There are too many negative feelings. I think she’ll be a lot happier with you. I’ll call her today itself.” Richie looked at him with a look of surprise for a minute, then returned a warm smile and hugged him before silently leaving.

The parting wasn’t easy. Amber was too heartbroken to talk to anyone for days, but Richie helped her move on. Soon she grew feelings for him and they were officially boyfriend and girlfriend two months after the breakup. Justin though mostly neutral, showed them a lot of support.

Not even a year had passed when an invitation was delivered to Justin’s house; A wedding invitation. Wasn’t it a little too soon? But they had known each other since childhood it’s probably a good idea. Justin looked at the invite deciding whether to attend the wedding or not.

The wedding day was here and so was Justin accompanied by his mother. They stood beside the door as Amber walked in and across the aisle. She looked more beautiful than Justin had imagined she would look at their wedding. “Oh, she looks gorgeous!” His mother exclaimed. “You know I really thought you two would end up together. Of course, what happened was wrong no doubt about that-” His mother stopped as she saw Justin’s eyes glisten with tears. “Oh Honey, you still love her,” His mother said in a quiet voice. “Of course, I do.” Justin looked at them for a while then said, “I might have loved her more, but he will certainly keep her happier than I ever would.” And with that, he turned his back to the hall.

“And do you, Amber, take thee, Richie, to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, till death sets you apart?” asked the Minister. Amber, who had been looking at Richie, turned her head towards a now back-facing Justin. She had dearly thought she saying this to him, but after all, they understood what the other meant in ways no one else could. She knew what she had to do.

“I do.”