Two days later,
Velma hadn't planned to open the door when she herd the knock. She knew that rhythm. Knew the pause between each knock like it was part of her memory. But still,her hand lingered on the door handle and when she pulled it open,Daniel stood there. No pretenses,no smile,no distractions. Just him and a look in his eyes like he was carrying something more than he needed to. "Can I come in?". She didn't answer ,she just stepped aside. They sat on the couch in silence for a while. Velma didn't touch the water she had poured. Daniel didn't look at her directly until he had taken a slow breath. "I owe you the truth". Velma's hand curled into fist onto her laps."About Olivia, about everything",he exhaled. "I never loved her,I never wanted to be with her,not like that ",Daniel added as he pursued his lips. She turned ,eyes narrowing but he wasn't lying,not in the way his voice cracked or how his eyes blinked too. "My parents...they thought I was losing myself after it ended,I wasn't talking, wasn't eating, Olivia came around and they pushed it,they said she was sweat, steady and safe,I let it happen because I didn't care what happened to me anymore",Daniel said still halfway of the truth.
"But it never felt real,I didn't talk to her the way I talked to you,I didn't laugh with her ,I didn't heal with her,she was just there and even though...I played along...it didn't work because anytime I looked at her,I remembered how it felt to lose you,Olivia didn't help me,she didn't fix me,I was just going through a lot of emotions to keep my family calm but this whole time....I was stuck in the place between guilt and regret",Daniel added.
Velma's voice was quiet as she asked him"so why now?". Daniel voice was clear and direct as he looked at her"because I realized that no matter how much time passes....if I don't tell you the truth,I will never be free. And even if you will never talk to me again,even if you would never look at me the same again,I needed you to hear it",then he paused.
"If you leave me Velma,I won't go back to her,I won't pretend anymore because I would rather say the truth than live with a lie". Velma didn't speak for a while. The weight of everything- past and present hovered in the room like thick smoke. Then finally,she whispered"why didn't you fight for me then?". Daniel's eyes glistered"Because I thought I didn't deserve to". They sat in silence again,no tears,just truth and for now,it was enough.