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“Ethan, I...I wanted to talk to you about something,” she says, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
I raise an eyebrow, turning to face her. “What is it, Lysa?”
She takes a deep breath, her gaze dropping to the floor. “I wanted to apologize,” she begins, her words coming out in a rush. “For my behavior, I mean. I know I haven’t always been the easiest person to work with, and I’ve made mistakes. But I want you to know that I’m trying to change. I want to do better.”
I’m taken aback by her sudden confession, unsure of how to respond. Lysa has always been nonchalant and rarely apologizes, even when she’s wrong.
“I appreciate your honesty, Lysa,” I say finally, choosing my words carefully. “But if you’re serious about making amends, you’ll need to show me that you’re willing to take your job more seriously.”
She nods, a determined look crossing her features. “I understand, Ethan. And I promise, I won’t let you down.”
Lysa stands before me, her expression contrite as she pleads for forgiveness. Her words fall on deaf ears as I struggle to reconcile the woman before me with the one who caused so much chaos in my life.
“I’m sorry, Ethan,” she says, her voice tinged with desperation. “I know I messed up, but please, don’t fire me. I promise I’ll do better.”
I study her carefully, searching for any hint of sincerity in her eyes. But all I see is the same calculated charm, the same manipulative façade that she’s always worn like a mask.
“Your job is on the line, Lysa,” I say, my tone firm. “You need to start taking it more seriously if you want to keep it.”
She nods, her gaze dropping to the floor as if in shame. But I can’t shake the feeling that she’s only telling me what I want to hear, that beneath the surface, she’s still the same selfish, deceitful woman I once dated.
“And what about the managerial retreat in L.A.?” she asks, her voice taking on a hopeful tone. “Am I still coming? I’m really looking forward to it.”
I resist the urge to roll my eyes at her transparent attempt to get close to me again. “We’ll see,” I say, my tone neutral. “But for now, focus on your work. That’s all I ask.”
She nods, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. “Of course, Ethan. I won’t let you down.”
As she turns to leave, I can’t shake the feeling of unease that settles over me. Lysa may have apologized, but deep down, I know she hasn’t changed. And if I’m not careful, she’ll do whatever it takes to get what she wants, no matter the cost.
As I sit at my desk, the weight of the day’s events pressing down on me like a heavy burden, my thoughts drift to my father. It’s been months since I last visited the cemetery, and a pang of guilt tugs at my conscience. I know I should make the time to pay my respects, but the demands of work always seem to take precedence.
But tonight feels different somehow. Tonight, I feel the need for my father’s guidance more keenly than ever. With a sigh, I push back from my desk; the decision is made in an instant.
“I’m going to visit Dad,” I announce to the empty room, the words carrying more weight than I intended. Rising from my chair, I grab my coat and keys; the familiar routine of the journey ahead provides a sense of comfort amidst the chaos.
By the time I reach my father’s grave, I feel a sense of peace settle over me. The familiar sight of the tombstone brings a bittersweet smile to my lips, and I reach out to brush away the dust that has settled on its surface.
“Hey, Dad,” I say softly, my voice carrying across the quiet expanse of the cemetery. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
I take a deep breath, not quite sure of how to continue. “There’s so much I want to tell you,” I continue, my voice cracking with emotion. “So much that’s been happening in my life.”
I pause, searching for the right words to convey the turmoil that I’ve been feeling. “I met someone,” I say finally, a small smile tugging at the corners of my lips. “Her name is Jessy, and...well, she’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met before.”
I let out a sigh—the words coming easier now that I’ve started. “But things are complicated,” I admit, my gaze drifting to the ground. “I want to be with her, Dad. I really do. But I can’t force her to feel the same way.”
I fall silent, lost in my own thoughts, as I try to make sense of the jumble of emotions swirling inside me. “And then there’s the company,” I continue, not able to stop the flow now that I opened the gate. “Sometimes I feel like I’m not living up to expectations, like I’m letting everyone down.”
I shake my head, frustration and uncertainty warring within me. “I just wish you were here, Dad,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the sound of my own heartbeat. “I could use your advice right now.”
With a heavy heart but a lighter spirit, I spend what feels like hours at my father’s graveside, pouring out my thoughts and feelings as if he were there to listen. I talk about everything—the challenges at work, the uncertainty of the future, and even the complexities of my personal life.
As I speak, I find myself opening up in a way I haven’t in a long time, unburdening myself of the weight I’ve been carrying for so long. And somehow, in the quiet solitude of the cemetery, it feels like he’s listening. It feels like he understands.
When I’m finally done, and when I’ve said everything I needed to say, I bid my father farewell with a sense of peace I haven’t felt in years.
As I walk away from his graveside, I can’t shake the feeling that, in some small way, I’ve found the clarity and strength I’ve been searching for all along.
The morning sunlight filters through the blinds of my office window, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor. I lean back in my chair, my mind preoccupied with the upcoming manager’s retreat in Los Angeles. It’s a crucial event for our company. But there’s one detail that still needs to be addressed—Jessy.
