Chapter Fifty Eight
Janet sat at her kitchen table, staring blankly at the wall in front of her. She knew what she had to do, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. The weight of her guilt was suffocating, and she felt like she was drowning in a sea of indecision.
Chloe sat across from her, sipping her coffee and trying to offer words of encouragement. “Janet, you have to tell him. It’s the only way to make things right.”
Janet shook her head, her hands shaking. “But what if he hates me? What if he can never forgive me? I can’t lose him, Chloe. I just can’t.”
Chloe reached across the table and took Janet’s hand. “I know it’s scary, but you have to trust that Jason loves you enough to understand. He’s a good guy, Janet. He’ll forgive you.”
Janet let out a shaky breath. “I hope you’re right. I just don’t know how to start the conversation. How do I even begin to explain what I’ve done?”
Chloe thought for a moment before speaking. “Well, you could start by telling him the truth. And then maybe explain why it happened and how sorry you are.”
Janet nodded slowly, her mind racing. “Okay. Okay, I can do this. I just have to find the right time and place to do it.”
Chloe smiled. “That’s the spirit. You got this.”
Janet still hadn’t told Jason the truth. She was consumed with guilt and anxiety, and it was taking a toll on her. She was jumpy and irritable, and Chloe was starting to worry about her.
One afternoon, Chloe showed up at Janet’s apartment unannounced. “What’s going on, Janet? You’ve been avoiding me, and you look like you haven’t slept in days.”Têxt © NôvelDrama.Org.
Janet sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I just can’t do it, Chloe. Every time I try, I freeze up. I don’t know if I can handle the fallout from telling him the truth.”
Chloe sat down next to her on the couch, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. “I get it, Janet. But you have to tell him. It’s not fair to either of you to keep this a secret. Trust me, the longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be.”
Janet nodded, tears streaming down her face. “I know you’re right. I just don’t know how to do it without losing him.”
Chloe hugged her friend tightly. “You’re not going to lose him, Janet. He loves you, and he’ll understand. Just be honest with him and let him process it in his own way.”
Janet stares at the mirrior, contemplating whether to call Jason and reschedule their plans or to just let it be. She’s torn between the guilt that’s eating away at her and the fear of what could happen if she tells him the truth. As she sits there, waiting for the mechanic to finish fixing her ride, she can’t help but feel like fate is playing a cruel game with her.
“Why now?” Janet mutters to herself, frustration clear in her voice. “Why does this have to happen right when I’m supposed to tell him?”
Chloe, who’s been patiently waiting with her, puts a hand on Janet’s shoulder. “Hey, it’s okay,” she says softly. “Maybe this is a sign that you’re not ready to tell him yet.”
Janet looks up at her friend, a mixture of relief and uncertainty in her eyes. “But what if I never feel ready?” she asks, her voice shaking. “What if I just keep putting it off until it’s too late?”
Chloe takes a deep breath and puts on her best reassuring smile. “Then we’ll deal with that when the time comes. But for now, let’s focus on getting your ride fixed and getting you home safely.”
As they wait for the mechanic to finish, Janet’s mind races with all the possible scenarios that could happen if she tells Jason the truth. She’s afraid of losing him, of hurting him, of everything falling apart. But at the same time, she knows that she can’t keep this secret forever.
Eventually, the mechanic finishes fixing her ride, and Janet and Chloe say their goodbyes. Janet drives home, her mind still reeling with indecision. She pulls into her driveway and sits there for a few minutes, trying to muster up the courage to call Jason and reschedule their plans.
Finally, she takes a deep breath and dials his number. After a few rings, he picks up.
“Hey, Janet. What’s up?” he asks.
“Hey, Jason. Listen, I’m so sorry, but my ride broke down on the way to meet you, and I’m not going to be able to make it tonight,” Janet says, her voice trembling.
Jason’s tone changes, and she can sense his disappointment. “Oh, that sucks. Is everything okay?”
Janet hesitates for a moment before speaking, her mind racing with all the things she wants to say. “Actually, there’s something I need to tell you, Jason. It’s important, and I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while now.”
There’s a long pause on the other end of the line, and Janet can hear Jason’s breathing become ragged. “What is it, Janet? You’re starting to scare me.”
“Jason, can I ask you something?” she says hesitantly.
“Of course, what’s on your mind?” he replies, his eyes searching hers for any hint of what’s bothering her.
“Do you ever get the feeling like someone is watching you? Like you’re being followed or something?” she asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jason looks at her quizzically. “No, I can’t say that I have. Why do you ask?”
Janet shakes her head. “It’s nothing, forget I said anything. I’m just being paranoid, I guess.”
But she can’t shake the feeling that someone is watching her every move, waiting for the moment to expose her secrets to the world. She starts to avoid going out in public, afraid that someone will recognize her from the night she cheated on Jason. She even goes so far as to change her appearance, dying her hair and wearing sunglasses everywhere she goes.