One More Chance

This story is by manpreet_tamber and was part of our 2018 Summer Writing Contest. You can find all the writing contest stories here.

One More Chance

I did something bad, I made the wrong choices and now I’m paying for it.

1 week earlier

Me and my wife, Rose, had just gotten into a fight. We were at a restaurant and the waiter kept hitting on Rose, so I hit him…a lot. I tried to keep calm and not beat him to a pulp, and I would have if that idiot hadn’t given her his number. I just lost my composure; I jumped out of my seat and tackled him. I got a couple of good hits in before Rose stopped me.

The car ride home was silent and she refused to even look at me when we got home. “Rose, honey, please talk to me” I pleaded to her. She turned around and looked at me with anger and sadness, but what really stuck out was the disappointment and hurt. “You nearly killed the guy!” she yelled, “You promised me you would stop getting into fights!” “I know and I tried so hard not to but when he gave you his number, I just couldn’t control myself. You can’t just sit there and expect me to not do anything!” I shouted. My eyes went wide, I have never yelled at her before, not that loudly and with that much force. She backed away from me. “Rose, I’m so sorry” I said with haste and regret. “Its fine” she replied back but I knew it wasn’t. She went to leave the room so I grabbed her wrist. She stopped and without turning around said, “let me go, I just want to be alone for a little bit.” So I let her go. Once the kitchen door close, I punched the wall, leaving a dent. I was so angry at myself; why did I yell at her like that, I’m so stupid.

I don’t know what I was doing but I decided to go. Where? I didn’t know but I just had to go. I drove around town for a bit until I saw a bar. It wasn’t too filled but there were still lots of people here.

The next morning I find myself in a bed, but it’s not mine. I look to my right and see a woman who isn’t my wife. I’m naked and I can tell that the woman beside me is as well. And then I remember some things that happened last night, including me and her, in here.

I had to leave, I couldn’t stay here. I was out all night and I just slept with another women. I messed up really bad and I have no clue what I’m going to do. Rose should know what I did and she should hear it from me. I’m so stupid, how could I do this to Rose. I love her and now she’ll hate me, but I deserve it and ill understand if she wants me out of her.

Present day

And I was absolutely correct. I told her that morning. She was crying and I could feel my heart shatter knowing I caused her this pain. She yelled at me and hit my chest, and I let her knowing I deserved everything she was giving me. Then she told me to leave. I begged her and told her I would make it up to her and I would fix this mess I created. I intend to keep my promise.

I’ve been wallowing in my misery for a whole week now. I’m barely ever sober, I’ve haven’t gone to work either. I am a complete mess without Rose and everyone knew it. Right now I’m staying at my best friend’s, drew, apartment. I heard the door open and I didn’t even move. I just sat there on the couch, not caring who it was. Drew stood in front of me and I heard him sigh but I didn’t move. He began to speak, “what the hell are you doing man. You need to get yourself together. Did you mess up big time? Yes. Did u hurt the love of your life? Absolutely.” I looked up at him my face void of any emotion. “But,” he continued pointing his finger at me now, “you can fix this. You love her and trust me when I say this; she loves you with all her heart too. But if you don’t sober up, go back to your job and try to make this situation right, you won’t get her back.” For the first time in a while I spoke a full sentence, “Drew, she hates me. She literally yelled it at me” if looks could kill I would be twelve feet under right now. “I swear on my life, if you do not get up right this second I will drag you out of this house and throw you in the sewer!” Drew said sternly. “I belong with the rats anyways” I replied back. He angrily sighed and went upstairs. I thought over his words and he was right. I can just sit here forever and drink all my worries away. I have to fix this.

The next morning I woke up and got ready for work. Today was the day I was going to make it up to Rose. When I came back from work I started to get everything prepared. I called her best friend, Ashley, to help me with this. She yelled at me in the beginning, but when she heard how guilty I was and how much I want to fix everything she decided she would help me. I set up notes in different places leading Rose to the place we first met. Ashley was there to tell her that she had a surprise for Rose and that’s how I would get her to the park. I scattered red rose petals to create a pathway towards me, I had a bouquet, chocolates, necklace and my heart in my hands. I just hope she shows up because I’m nothing without her.

I’ve been waiting here for about twenty minutes when I see her. She is walking down the rose petal path and then she looks up at me. I see hurt in her eyes just before she starts to cry. I run up to her and hug her, but what shocks me is when she hugs back. We just stood there for a couple of minutes until she pushed away slightly but I kept her in my arms determined to never let her go again. “Why?” she asked. It was a simple question, so I answered in the simplest way possible, “I messed up and I know that. I hurt you and I don’t think I could ever forgive myself for that. I love you Rose and I can’t ever stop loving you. That whole week we were apart was killing me. I barely moved off the couch, I am nothing without you. I need you and I swear if you decide to give me another chance; I promise I will never ever hurt you ever again. Please I know you hate me, but I’m asking for just one more chance. I need you back; I can’t afford to lose you.” Wiping away her tears with the pads of my thumbs, showing her how vulnerable I was. And what she said had me jumping to the moon, “Xavier, I could never hate you. I’ll give you another chance and you better not make me regret it.” I smiled from ear to ear and crashed my lips against hers.