Page 72 of Aperture

“Because they leave me,” he says solemnly.

“Who has left you, Theo.” He doesn’t answer. “Is this about Sophia?”

He inhales and blows out a deep breath. “Of course, Wyatt told you about her.”

“He did,” I say. “He told me about the night she went missing.”

“So you know that she chose him over me.” Pausing, he looks into my eyes. “Just like you did.”

I am still so angry and hurt, but I also recognize that the man before me is broken, and I am partially to blame.

“I wasn’t there so I don’t know what she was thinking or feeling, so I can’t speak for her,” I reason, “but I can tell you that I never chose Wyatt over you.” I never had a choice when it came to him.

“It's better for everyone if I just keep my distance,” he says. “I’m so sorry that I hurt you, Millie. I never wanted to do that to you.”

I believe him. I believe that he has experienced something that makes him push people away before they can hurt him. It’s a defense mechanism. I feel sad for him because his life is going to be very lonely if he continues to live this way.

“I know,” I tell him.

I don’t want him to leave yet. I feel like there is so much left that is unspoken between us, and I want to explain myself to him as best as I can. I want him to understand how much I care about him. He stands abruptly and I reach for his hand.

“Theo,” I plead, but before I can finish, he pulls his hand away and shakes his head.

He walks to the door and turns just before reaching it. “I love you, Millie. I love you, and you love him, so please don’t tell me you didn’t choose him, because you did.”

He turns back and walks out the door.

I am left standing in my living room, silent tears rolling down my cheeks as I think of all of the pain the past few months have brought all of us.

I walk over to Milo, who is laying on his dog bed, and curl up next to his bed with my head on his belly, crying until I fall asleep.

***Camera Image***

I watch as Theo walks out of her house in a hurry. He wasn’t in there long, maybe thirty minutes at the most.

His shoulders are slumped. It’s done. I’ve been waiting for this moment.

He’s normally so well put together, not a thread out of place, but those threads are unraveling quickly.

He gets in his car and throws it into reverse, screeching out of the driveway. I can hear loud music pouring out of speakers as he passes by me, parked in my truck, idling against the curb near her house. I don’t even attempt to duck.

He’s not paying attention to anything right now. I make a U-turn and follow him as my hands itch with anticipation.

Chapter 33

I wake up in a cold, dark house.

While I was asleep, the sun went down and the chilly winter air snuck in through cracks and crevices, making my home feel uncomfortably isolated.

Stretching out my legs I sit up and try to make out the shadows being cast across the room. It’s dead quiet and while I normally like that, I find myself craving some ambient noise.

I slowly get up and turn on the television. I can hear the laugh track of a familiar sitcom and it soothes my nerves as I walk around the house, turning on lights and shutting the curtains. I check the locks and windows, which has become my routine every time I return home since finding that picture in my spare room.

I have a nagging feeling that I should tell Wyatt about my conversation with Theo. It’s not that it’s any of his business and it’s not that I owe either of them anything, but I have been in the middle of this long enough and I want to put an end to it.

Millie: Can you come over?

Wyatt: I’m at work. I’ll leave now.