Chapter 20 - Alex and I met for coffee in January.
Not for a handoff with Clara. Just us.
We sat in a quiet cafe downtown. He looked older. The hollow look in his eyes had settled into a permanent, quiet resignation.
"I'm transferring," he said, staring at his mug. "To a station in the suburbs. Quieter. Less high-rise action."
"Are you okay with that?" I asked.
"I requested it." He looked up. "I can't be in those buildings anymore, Lucy. I can't look at elevator banks without seeing you in there."
I stirred my tea. "It gets easier."
"Does it?"
"Yes. Eventually."
He nodded slowly. "I hear Mark comes around."
I went still. "Who told you that?"
"The guys at the station talk. He doesn't hide it." Alex offered a small, sad smile. "He’s a good man, Lucy. A better one than me."
"Alex—"
"No, it's true." He held up a hand. "I’m not angry. I don't have the right to be. I just... I want you to be happy. You and Clara. If he makes you happy, I won't get in the way."
I looked at the man I had promised forever to. The man who had broken that promise in the worst possible way.
He was finally doing the one thing I had needed him to do a year and a half ago.
He was putting my well-being before his own.
May you like
"Thank you, Alex," I said.
We finished our coffee in peace.
