Chapter 3 A SECOND CHANCE

I decided to make coffee for the both of us and walked to the kitchen.

Daniel followed.

"Luke is not a jerk. He was just... just.....deceived by Kamsy that's all," I said softly.

Of Course, I didn't want him to suspect anything, I had to give him answers that wouldn't be a hint of the emotional breakdown I was trying to hide.

"Deceived? Is he a child?"

Daniel snapped in rage.

He was deeply offended by my reply.

"They say boys will be boys," I shrugged, trying to end the discussion.

"Engaging you in front of the whole company and breaking up with you the same way? That's not being 'deceived.' That's cruelty. And did you hear the things people were saying about you? They laughed at you, Valerie."

I couldn't take it anymore. My heart pounded in my chest. I paused what I was doing and looked up with my eyes soaked.

"What is your problem, Daniel? Please, just let me be! I told you I'm fine. Let them laugh, mock me, call me names-I don't care! Why do you care so much? Just leave me alone! You have better things to do! I want to breathe...Go give that attention to your girl!"

I shouted, my voice trembling with suppressed tears.

Daniel's face fell.

The disappointment in his eyes hit me like a slap.

I covered my mouth, and dropped down on the kitchen chair.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, but the words caught in my throat.

Daniel sighed.

"Fine, I'll leave. I just wanted to be a friend and check on you. That's all."

He walked over to the counter, where I'd placed the poison, and picked it up.

"If you don't have a reason to live, then let me be that reason...we are friends...I am going to lose you.".

Daniel held the rat poison in his hand.

"No matter how much pain you've gone through, Valerie, it's not worth your life. I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. Look into that mirror right now," he said, gesturing toward the mirror on my wall, "and ask yourself-is that coward, that ungrateful brat of a man, really worth this? No man is worth you taking your life. Don't let your emotions play tricks on you."

His words sliced through the fog of despair clouding my mind.

"My fiancé and my best friend betrayed me, Daniel," I said, my voice shaking with suppressed rage. "They played me. For three years, I was nothing but a side chick-a glorified maid! The money girl, the laundry girl, the cook, and even the abortion girl! And she... she was the main woman all along. I never thought they could hurt me...it hurts so much...I don't know if I can move on...Kamsy isn't just my only friend, she is my best friend and sister...I introduced her to my man as my sister...Luke...choose her over me from that moment...why then...why let me go through all this thinking I had a best friend and a lover but instead I had two enemies who mock me while they fuck behind my back!"

My chest heaved as I continued, my voice cracking.

"I trusted Kamsy. She was like my sister! She knew everything about me-my secrets, my fears, my dreams. And Luke? He was my first. My first kiss, my first love, my first everything. I gave him my all. I forgave his lies, his betrayals, his broken promises, because I loved him. And this is what I get in return?"

Daniel stood quietly, letting me vent.

"I aborted many times for him, Daniel. Four!" I cried, tears streaming down my face. "Because my friend said it would save my relationship. Because my fiancé said he wasn't ready to be a father. And I believed them. I believed them every single time. Do you know what that makes me? A fool,A weak naive maid for their entertainment. Thinking about the abortions! I am nothing but a monster. A murderer. I don't deserve to live!"

Daniel sighed deeply and sat down on the sofa.

"You're not the only person who's made mistakes, Valerie. And yes, you've done things you regret. But punishing yourself won't fix the past. What matters is that you've realized what went wrong. That guilt you feel? It's a sign that you have a conscience. A monster wouldn't feel this way."

I shook my head, sobbing uncontrollably.

"You don't understand..."

"No, you don't understand," he interrupted gently. "Life isn't over just because people hurt you. You have a choice, Valerie. You can let their betrayal destroy you, or you can rise above it. But don't you dare let those two selfish people decide your worth."

He leaned forward, looking me straight in the eye.

"Please, forgive yourself and move on. It's not easy, but you can do it.You're not alone, Val. Not as long as I'm here."

I looked at him, the poison still clutched in his hand. My tears kept flooding down my cheeks.

He stood and placed the poison on the highest shelf, far out of my reach.

"I'll leave now, but promise me you'll call if you need anything," he said, pausing at the door.

I nodded weakly, unable to speak.

Daniel hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say more, but then he left, closing the door softly behind him.

As soon as he was gone, I fell to my knees, my cries filling the empty room.

_________

Well, I decided to give myself a second chance to live,as he advised.

The next morning I woke up,prayed, spent most of the pray session asking God for forgiveness then got ready for work.

I have been mocked for my poor fashion sense in the past by my colleagues ,so I decided to put on my best outfit.

I don't want them to think that I am depressed or whatever,after they witnessed my humiliating breakup.

At work, of course my female colleagues didn't fake it ,they all talked loudly about me and laughed out loud.

I went straight to my corner, put my bag down on my desk and said a short prayer.

The first thing my eyes caught was the portrait of me and my ex.

Luke.

I sighed and slowly put it down under my desk then proceeded to open my computer system.

"Good morning!"

I didn't have to guess ,I am sure it was Daniel. I looked up and smiled back at him.

"Good morning Dan".