"You kept this from me?"
I sat down.
Had I fixed Sarah's bike… would she have lost control like that? That was my fault too... Not just Greg's.
I couldn't stop the tears.
"I haven't heard her voice… in 11 years."
Michael didn't say anything. Neither did Greg. The string lights hummed faintly overhead.
Then I looked up at Greg.
I wasn't angry. What I felt was something colder.
Had I fixed Sarah's bike… would she have lost control like that?
"You lived your life."
He nodded. His eyes were red. "Yes."
"You kept going. You moved on. And you let your friend carry it for you."
Greg didn't defend himself. He just said, "I know. And I'm ready to face whatever comes next."
I respected him for that.
I looked at Michael for a long moment. He stood there with his hands at his sides, waiting.
I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. "Michael, you don't get to decide things alone anymore. That's done."
He exhaled a long, careful breath.
