Chapter 7 The Aftermath

Chapter 8: The Aftermath

I sat in stunned silence, trying to process the revelation. Ngimanchi's words hung in the air, a mixture of sadness and desperation. But I couldn't muster up any sympathy for her. I was too hurt, too angry.

"You're telling me that you've been using me for your own gain, and now you're trying to justify it by saying you didn't know how else to get what you needed?" I asked, my voice laced with incredulity.

Ngimanchi nodded her eyes welling up with tears. "I know it's not right," she said. "But I felt like I had no other choice. I've always felt like I'm just scraping by trying to make ends meet. And I knew you had the means to help me."

I shook my head, feeling a sense of disgust. "You've been manipulating me, using my kindness and generosity against me," I said. "And now you're crying about it? You're crying about the consequences of your own actions?"

Ngimanchi's tears stopped, and she looked at me with a flash of anger. "You're just like everyone else," she said. "You're just judging me, without trying to understand."

"I understand that you've been lying to me, using me for your own gain," I said. "I understand that you've broken my trust, and I'm not sure I can ever forgive you for that."

The words hung in the air, a heavy weight between us. I knew that our relationship was over, that I couldn't continue to be a part of someone who had manipulated me so thoroughly.

"What now?" Ngimanchi asked, her voice small.

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "I need some space," I said. "I need some time to think about what I've just learned, and what I want to do next."

Ngimanchi nodded, her eyes cast downward. "I understand," she said.

I stood up, feeling a sense of resolve. "I'll give you your space," Ngimanchi said, standing up and walking towards the door. "But can I ask one thing?"

"What?" I asked, my voice firm.

"Will you ever be able to forgive me?" Ngimanchi asked, her eyes searching mine.

I looked at her, feeling a mix of emotions. "I don't know," I said. "But what I do know is that I need time to think, and I need space from you."

Ngimanchi nodded, and walked out the door, leaving me to pick up the pieces of my shattered trust.