As soon as James and Helen arrived back home, he locked himself up into his office. They hadn't spoken a word since they had left the Gundvaldson's house. In there they had been cheerful and talkative, and after Margaret explained her story, they had explained theirs. It was not as exciting and exotic, but it was a love story nonetheless. Helen insisted on their hosts to join them for dinner the following weekend. It was the right thing to do after their hospitality. Yet, as she arrived home, she wasn't sure it had been a good idea.
Whilst Helen was lost in her thoughts in their bedroom, James had rescued the note Margaret had left him five years before. Life had treated her well, she had found love, she had had adventures. She deserved it, that was for sure, so why was he feeling so annoyed? Maybe it was because it looked as if she had forgotten him, she had moved on. He also had, although a part of him would always love her, a part larger than he dared to admit. He sat down on his desk and started scribbling thoughts, it had always helped him put them in order. That day it was futile, the unexpected return of Margaret had turned his world upside down. He found himself staring at the paper, hours after they had arrived home. It was late at night and Helen would be already asleep. He got inside the bed, slowly, failing to see that his wife had cried herself to sleep.
The following morning James woke up early and immersed himself in work, hoping he would forget his worries. When, after almost three hours, he saw it wouldn't work, he decided to pay a visit to Margaret. He never liked to go to places unannounced, but it was a matter of life or death, at least to him. Margaret received him inside her library, a magnificent room with titles in at least three languages. Maybe it was a nod to past times, or maybe she had been there when he had arrived. She looked like a proper lady, but she was distant.
-Margaret.- there was lust and love in his voice.
-James.- hers was a glacier.
-Margaret, I still love you. I couldn't stop thinking about how stupid I was for letting you go. We could still make it work.
-You are making a fool of yourself, James. I don't love you anymore. I married Hans because I had forgotten you, not because I wanted to forget you. When I left and you never came, I knew your love for me wasn't as strong as my love for you. If you had loved me enough you would have probably found a way. It is over.
-Margaret, you can't appear like this after so long and tell me it is over.
-But it is. And you have a wonderful wife who deserves love, and deserves someone who is true to her. Think if you can do it, because if you can't you're only going to hurt her more than you have already done.
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