Torn (Connections #2)(49)

"I thought I was doing what was best for you."

"I know that. And Grace, I'm not upset at you for it anymore."

"So I'm confused, Dahlia. Why won't you forgive him? Talk to him again?"

Before I can answer, the waiter approaches our table and I order an extra dirty martini and Grace orders a sparkling water. When he leaves I pick up where we left off. "The word forgive means something different to each of us and we each chose whether we can do it or not. I did hear him out and once he started to explain everything it only made me angrier. I just don't think talking to him again will change anything. It won't make me forget what I went through-or help me forgive him. It would be like saying I'm okay with what I went through because of him and I'm not okay with that. I don't know if I ever will be."

Leaning closer, she squeezes my hand. "I'm not sure about that, Dahlia. I think if you just calmly sit down with him and really listen, you could try to understand why he left. He left to protect you-and if you can understand that, you'd be able to forgive him."



       
         
       
        

"I'm sorry, but I've really had enough with everyone always wanting to protect me. And how is causing me so much pain and suffering protecting me? Grace, I'm not mad at the fact that he didn't actually die. I just can't forgive the act itself-pretending to die."

Grace reacts more dramatically than I would ever have expected. "Dahlia, you just have to get past this wall you've put up and let him in. Forgive him. He gave up a lot for you! Surfing and now his life."

As I stare at her, trying to understand where this conversation is headed, the waiter brings us our drinks and without even glancing at our menus, we both order a salad. Taking a large sip from my glass, I set it down and prepare to tell her what she doesn't want to hear.

"His reasons, what he did, why he did it-they don't change the impact his death had on not just me, but all of us. We all felt the pain and mourned for him in our own way for a long time. And it was his choice, his choice to leave, his choice to keep evidence. Don't you get it-he made a choice. You may have been able to forgive him for all that and that's fine, but that doesn't mean I can."

Rubbing her hands together she says, "I do get it but choices aren't always that easy, Dahlia. Ben suffered, too. In fact, he's still suffering."

Suddenly, it's like all of the emotional turmoil I've experience these last few days comes rushing back. Setting my glass down, I have to tell her, "Danger, protection, disappearing-Grace, it's just insane, the whole thing."

Our salads arrive and we both push our forks around, without really eating or talking.

Without warning, she drops her fork and focuses on me. "Dahlia, will you please forgive him? For me? He has a whole life to rebuild and he really wants you in it."

Exasperation takes hold of me and I have to tell her, "I am not getting back together with him. You can't possibly think that."

"No, I'd never ask you to do that. I know you're happy. Just hear him out. He needs your forgiveness in order to be able to move on, move away from these sad past few years. And Dahlia, before anything else you were friends. Can't you get back to that?"

I shake my head no. "What he needs? What about what I needed? What about the life I led?"

She stares at me for a long while before standing up and coming to crouch beside me. She holds both my hands and when she finally speaks, it doesn't sound like her voice at all. It's small and full of pain. "Dahlia, I think of you as my daughter. You know that. And it's for this reason I feel you need to take a step back and look at what you're doing. You need to face the situation. Not only have you been through a lot, but so has he. I think talking to him will help you move past your anger and maybe even help toward rebuilding your friendship." 

Standing up, I toss my napkin on the table and grab my purse. "Grace, I'm not ready to forgive him. There is nothing he can do to take back what I went through because of his decisions. My anger is justified and I don't know if I'll ever get past it."

She makes one last plea, "Dahlia, you owe him at least forgiveness."

"I don't owe him anything."

With that, I have to leave the restaurant before I lose my composure. I try to take deep calming breaths. I reach my car and want to scream when I see the folded piece of paper on my windshield. I take his remember-me item and without even opening it, rip it into pieces and let it fall to the ground. Finally, all the emotion and events of the past days paralyze me as I'm getting into the car. I put my hands on the roof, taking short quick breaths, trying to pump the air back into my lungs. I think about what Grace asked me-and even though I would do almost anything for her, I can't do it. I can't look at the situation through rose-colored glasses like she always does.