Pauline's POV
A sense of freedom washed over me as I walked through the quiet house. The invisible weight that had pressed down on my shoulders for weeks finally lifted. The awkward tension with Arnold had dissolved, leaving behind something cleaner, more honest.
I had wrestled with my conscience countless times, wondering if I was being cruel or unreasonable. Perhaps love could grow slowly, like seeds taking root in fertile soil, rather than striking like a bolt from the sky. But no matter how hard I tried to convince myself otherwise, my heart remained unmoved. Arnold deserved honesty, not false hope built on my guilt.
