" It was like someone had died-like I had died. Because it had to be more than just losing the truest of true love as if that were not enough to kill anyone. It was also losing a whole future, a whole family- the whole life that I'd chosen…

Mr. Anderson went on in a hopeless tone. ‘I don't know if she's going to get over it-I'm not sure if it's in her nature to heal from something like this. She's always been such a constant little thing. She doesn't get past things, change her mind.’

‘She's one of a kind,’ Olivia agreed in a dry voice.

‘And Olivia…’ Mr. Anderson hesitated. ‘Now, you know how fond I am of you, and I can tell that she's happy to see you, but… I'm a little worried about what your visit will do to her.’

‘So am I, Mr. Anderson, so am I. I wouldn't have come if I'd had any idea. I'm sorry.’

‘Don't apologize, honey. Who knows? Maybe it will be good for her.’

‘I hope you're right.’

There was a long break while Pittsburgh scraped plates and Mr. Anderson chewed.

I wondered where Olivia was hiding the food.

‘Olivia, I have to ask you something,’ Mr. Anderson said awkwardly.

Olivia was calm. ‘Go ahead.’

‘He's not coming back to visit, too, is he?’ I could hear the suppressed anger in Mr. Anderson’s voice.

Olivia answered in a soft, reassuring tone. ‘He doesn't even know I'm here.

The last time I spoke with him, he was in South America.’

I stiffened as I heard this added information and listened harder.

‘That's something, at least.’ Mr. Anderson snorted. ‘Well, I hope he's enjoying himself.’

For the first time, Olivia's voice had a bit of steel in it. ‘I wouldn't make assumptions, Mr. Anderson.’ I knew how her eyes would flash when she used that tone.

A chair scooted from the table, scraping loudly across the floor. I pictured Mr. Anderson getting up; there was no way Olivia would make that kind of noise. The faucet ran, splashing against a dish. "

― , Nevaeh Hard to Let Go