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His face crumpled.
Right there, in front of his date, our children, and Monica’s friends, his eyes filled with tears.
My now ex-husband crossed the room before Paige could catch his sleeve.
« Jane, » he said quietly. « Can we talk? Please. I made the worst mistake of my life. »
Paige’s smile disappeared behind him.
I watched her understand, in real time, that she’d never been the prize.
She was the mirror.
And the mirror was now watching him beg another woman.
What I got instead left me speechless.
I was left speechless as I looked at Howard.
Really looked at him.
And I saw it.
He’d never really loved Paige.
He loved how she made him feel young.
Now he was scared, standing in a restaurant, asking me to fix that for him again.
I finally found my voice.
« Howard, » I said gently. « I forgive you. »
His face lifted.
« But I’m not available. Not because I’m angry. Because I finally belong to myself. »
I was left speechless.
I turned back to Monica.
Steve made a joke I didn’t quite catch, and I laughed anyway because laughter felt easy now.
I lifted my glass, completely ignoring the man whom I once loved.
The woman I’d become was the one I got to keep.
And the following day, she’d still be mine and would love me as I am.
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