Chapter 16

Theo had long stopped the car. They were both silent. Neither knew what to say. The atmosphere was a completely different one. Just minutes before, it was light and relaxing, and familiar. But it had taken a 180-degree turn.

“Theo, I... I’m really sorry, Theo. I put you in this mess,” Jessie said tentatively, not bearing to look at Theo. She felt so guilty.

Theo took both her hands and lifted her chin up.

“Jessie. Stop blaming yourself. You had no idea the person you wanted to spend your life with was like this. And when I put myself in a position where we got into a relationship, I chose to be with you no matter the circumstances.”

Jessie looked up at him finally, and Theo saw that there were tears glistening in her eyes. He did not say anything else. Just placed a kiss on her forehead, then buckled in and started the car.

The ride back home was a relatively silent one, with Theo’s free and comforting right hand