Velma's apartment -wednesday afternoon
It was the knock that warned her. Not a friendly one,not an impatient one but firm ,final like the person on the other side already knew the truth. Velma opened the door and saw Olivia. Hair slicked back into a perfect bun. Lipstick muted, outfit crisp like she came to deliver more than words. Velma breath caught "Olivia". "You are not even suprised",Olivia said quietly. Velma opened the door widely asking her if she wanted to come in but she refused. They stood in the doorway, neighbors passing silently behind them,the world moving while the moment held still." How long?",Olivia asked." I didn't plan any of this".
"That's not what I asked" . Velma crossed her arm,"he came here two weeks ago,we talked,he came back,I didn't call him" ,Velma said cooly. "But you didn't push him back either",Olivia muttered."No ". Olivia exhaled biting the inside of her cheeks. "I asked him last night" ,she said . point-blank. "Are you still in love with her ?,do you know what he said?" .Velma lips parted slightly but she didn't say anything. "He said...I don't know how to stop unloving her",Olivia added."I was with him when he was rebuilding,when he couldn't say your name without flinching,when he thought he didn't deserve love anymore. I stayed,I poured into him",Olivia added,her eyes watering. "I didn't steal him Olivia".
"You didn't have to,he walked away willingly". They both stood there ,years of unspoken pain between them,not just about a man,but about timing, about loyalty and about who deserves peace. "I didn't come here to fight,I came here so I won't regret not looking you in the eye",Olivia said,her voice cracking. Velma nodded slowly ,"do you hate me?". Olivia blinked hard "Not yet,but I'm close". Then she turned, walked down the hallway and left. Velma felt something that wasn't Daniel settle in her chest,it was "GUILT".