The two of them fought their demons separately for hours, each trying to find some solution that didn’t require anyone to give up anything. The problem was, there wasn’t such a solution.
At last, with night falling, Summer forced herself to get up. She wasn’t sure she could bear to give Isaac her decision — she was certain he would try to change her mind. But neither could she bear to simply depart silently, with no word to him. Weary and heartbroken, she sought him out in their — his — home.
As the day moved into night, the darkening night gradually matching his mood, Isaac forced himself to his feet and began the walk home, avoiding any passers-by that might feel inclined to strike up a conversation with him. There was only one person that he wanted to see, and he could only hope that she was in the same place that he was heading.
“Summer?” he called out softly as he stepped into their home, closing the door behind him as his eyes scanned the dull room. Seeing that he was alone for the moment, he moved to sit in the nearest chair and pillowed his head in his arms, awaiting her arrival.
It looked like he was asleep, and her heart broke further at the thought of waking him. But there was no other way — none of the choices were good. She had to choose what she thought would be best for herself.
Secretly, she didn’t believe there was a best choice for her. But she thought the most people would be made happy by her choice.
Giving in, she rested her hand on his curly hair, stroking her fingers through it as her mouth trembled.