OUTSIDE THE COFFEE SHOP - THE LAST WORD

“You came.” He smiled. She stood with arms folded. Eyes turned away from him. “You look nice.” “What do you want?” “Shall we?” “I’m fine here.” “We can sit inside and talk.” “I said I’m fine here.” Eyes turned back on him. “Ok.” He stood with a steady heartbeat. “How are you?” “What do you want?” “I called you here to apologize.” Her silence for words prompted him to speak. “Alright.” He took a deep breath. “Kate” Stepped closer. “I’m sorry for whatever I did.” Not a word from her. Her eyes poked his gaze. “For the way I behaved.” His eyes descended to the ground. “The violence I caused. The times I hit you.” She stared into his eyes. Her arms didn’t lose grip. They interlocked the tears away. “I’m not the same person now.” He said, “Time spent away from you changed me. I’ve learnt to appreciate you more. I love you Kate. Even today, I love you more.” She moved not an inch. Folded arms and stilled eyes waited in silence. “I want you to give me another chance. We could get married.” Another step closer. “Have kids.” “Why would I want that?” Two steps away. “Will you forgive me Kate? Give me another chance?” “I need to apologize for a few myself.” “What do you need to apologize for?” “I’m sorry for the times I let you hit me. For the times I hid my bruises. I waited four months before I plucked up the courage to leave you. I’m sorry for the times you threatened me to stay away from my friends. I obeyed your every word. What’s worse is I put you before my family. I’m sorry for the times I didn’t report you to the police.” She took a step closer. “I should have gone to the police.” His hands slipped into his pockets and his eyes glued to the ground. “But I have to thank you.” She said. “You taught me a valuable lesson which took me a year to understand. I won’t take your or anyone else’s shit anymore. You deal with your own shit. Goodbye.” “Kate, don’t go. I’m lonely without you.” He stopped her by the arm. “Marriage? And kids?” Shook his hand off. “With you?” She turned around and walked away. “Go to hell.”