Epilogue

Lily was utterly defeated. The truth, as painful as it was, had unveiled itself, and she hadn't even suspected a thing.

It all began to make sense now. Why he had kept his distance from everyone, why he had been at that swing on that fateful rainy day, why he seemed to have lost his inner light, and why he had broken up with her – he had been trying to make it easier, to lessen the inevitable pain.

"Marcus, you fool! I didn't even get the chance to say... I love you."

Lily retreated to her room and didn't emerge for days, which slowly turned into weeks. Charlotte visited her occasionally, but it didn't offer much solace. Lily wasn't just heartbroken; she was in excruciating agony. She couldn't discern if she was angry or just profoundly sad. She wasn't even certain if she ever wanted to see him again.

But that was a lie.

Given the opportunity, she would run into his arms, never wanting to let go. She wouldn't need words, just to be with him, forever.

All she longed to say now was "I love you," as he had told her. But that chance was irrevocably lost.

She yearned to utter those sweet words to him, to celebrate his poetry contest victory with him. She longed for his presence, yet at the same time, she wished she could erase him from her memory, as he would never be with her again.

Curled up in her bed, she wept into her sheets.

She couldn't continue like this. Her mother had told her this countless times, offering heartfelt pep talks to lift her spirits.

Today was the day she resolved to take the first step. She would invite Charlotte to meet at a café after her classes. It was time to unburden herself, to start the process of healing.

With determination, she sent a text to Charlotte, and they agreed to meet after Charlotte's classes were done.

At four thirty, they finally met up, and Lily was ready to pour out her feelings to Charlotte, to confide in her completely. However, just as Lily was about to speak, Charlotte interjected with a seriousness that left Lily curious and apprehensive.

"Lily, there's something I want to say," Charlotte began, with a serious tone, causing Lily to wonder what was coming next. "I talked to Davina, and I think you should consider forgiving her."

Lily couldn't believe her ears. How could Charlotte suggest such a thing? Davina had betrayed her, broken her trust, and inflicted the deepest wound. And now, with everything that had happened...

"Charlotte, I can't. I just can't do that," Lily insisted.

"Lily, please, hear me out," Charlotte implored calmly, her soothing words compelling Lily to listen and collect herself.

"As your friend, all I want is what's best for you. Davina has known you much longer than I have and knows things about your life that I don't. I believe that she can help you more than I can."

Charlotte's wasn't lying. Davina knew many of of Lily's secrets, including her past friendship and the struggles she faced. But she had crossed a line that Lily couldn't easily forgive.

"Please, just give her another chance, listen to what she has to say," Charlotte pleaded as Davina appeared behind her and took a seat when Lily gestured, signaling her reluctant consent.

"I understand you don't want to talk to me," Davina began, her voice trembling with emotion, "but Lily, you're my best friend. When I mentioned you couldn't take care of your best friend, I was talking about myself, not her, not your other best friend. I saw you happy, and I didn't want to bring you more suffering because of me. But seeing you like this, in so much pain, hurts me even more."

Tears welled up in Davina's eyes as she wiped them away with her hand.

Lily was speechless. She had completely misunderstood Davina. Tears filled her own eyes, and she hugged Davina tightly.

Maybe she was trusting her too easily, but trust was everything that she had left.

She trusted Marcus and he hid a big secret from her and she had trusted her previous bestfriend, which lead her to misery.

But even with all that, she was going to trust again, and maybe she would get hurt, but that was what made her human.

"I thought I was supposed to be the one crying," Lily chuckled amidst her tears.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," Davina repeated.

"It's okay," Lily reassured her.

"Well, I thought that was my job!" Davina said with a smile and tears running through her cheeks.

With that conversation, their friendship was mended. Lily felt a profound relief at having Davina back in her life.

Finally, she mustered the strength to begin recounting her story, starting from that fateful rainy day.

As they sat together, Lily poured her heart out to her two friends, baring her soul and sharing the depth of her emotions.

When she finished, she turned to them, asking for their advice on what to do next.

"I'm just... I'm so lost," Lily confessed, having gone through at least ten paper napkins.

"I think you should start by slowly and steadily getting over him," Charlotte suggested. "As you said, you can't keep living like this, Lily. He's gone."

Davina added, "You mentioned he liked poems, right? Maybe you can take the first step by writing him a poem, pouring out all your emotions, and leaving it in the same place where you first found his poem."

And so, Lily took their advice, embarking on her first step toward healing and moving forward, all the while preserving the memory of Marcus in her heart.

Lily's poem...

In the rain, we met, you and I,

Under cloudy skies, our souls took flight.

Through laughter and tears, we found our way,

In your arms, I wished to forever stay.

But fate's cruel hand, it took you from me,

A heart that couldn't mend, it wasn't meant to be.

In this poem, my love, I set you free,

In memories and dreams, together we'll be.