pillows on the living-room sectional.
Elena and Alex stood alone in the kitchen drinking tea.
After several quiet minutes, Elena asked,
“Do you still think we should get back together?”
Alex considered his answer carefully.
“At first, yes.”
Elena waited.
“I think I confused guilt with love,” he continued. “And regret with the belief that I could somehow repair everything at once.”
“And now?”
Alex met her eyes.
“Now I understand the kids can’t become a bridge for rebuilding a marriage that we broke years ago.”
He took a breath.
