“Are you even hearing yourself? After what he did, what you did, you’re telling me to give him a chance to explain?” I shook my head in exasperation.

She pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out a sigh. “I know, Em. And I’m extremely sorry for that. You don’t know how guilty I’ve been feeling for hurting you. But Em, you have to understand. Whatever we did, yes, it wasn’t the best way to do it, but it was for your own good. Trust me.”

I snorted. “My own good? What was good in there, Tess? I don’t see any good in my living with a broken heart for seven years. I don’t see anything good in my suffering for the last damn seven years!” My voice rose as I spoke. With my heart beating fast in my chest, my breathing was harsh as hot lava ran through my veins.

“I know the pain in love. I’ve experienced it. And I also know we shouldn’t have done it. But at that moment, we were young, Em. We didn’t know how to handle this matter. The phase Achilles was going through…”

She closed her eyes for a moment before opening them back, as if not wanting to remember the memories.

“Maybe he told you about his condition back then, but he didn’t tell you of the severity of it. He was going through a living hell. And Caleb, Tobias, and I saw it. We saw him writhing in pain in his bed when he didn’t get his dose. We heard his screams from his nightmares. No matter how much he tried to get over it, he couldn’t. And no one in their sane mind would want the girl they loved to see them in that state.”

I stopped breathing at her revelation. Imagining him in that situation shook me to my core. An urge to reach out to him rose in me, but I suppressed it.

“After knowing how important he was for you, he couldn’t let you dream of him anymore. Even we didn’t think he’d be able to get out of his addiction ever. And when I told him about your plan to confess to him that night, he sought my help. And as his best friend, and thinking of your well-being, I agreed. Please forgive us, Em. Whatever we did, we did for you.” She added, moisture sparkled in her eyes.

“This doesn’t justify anything. I wasn’t that young that you guys couldn’t tell me. But I was young enough for the scene you guys created to have me shattered completely,” I said. My jaw clenched. “Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. You did whatever you thought was right. And now I’ll do whatever I think is right.”

With my chin high, I turned around to leave.