Her eyes lifted slowly.
“I’m sorry.”
The words sounded fragile, as if they’d taken years to come out.
“I can’t stay long.”
“I should’ve said it yesterday,” Lydia continued. “When I saw you at the garage sale. But I was so shocked and embarrassed that my brain just… froze.”
Her voice cracked slightly.
“I’ve thought about that graduation day more times than you probably realize.”
She rubbed her hands together.
“What I did to you was cruel,” she said quietly. “And what I said in front of your mom… that was worse.”
The room remained silent.
“I should’ve said it yesterday.”
