No, Melody had fullheartedly believed in the fresh start in the first few days. Her thoughts were constantly dreaming of the trip they were to take and how they would finally have a chance at happiness. Then, Ben's continued distance pulled at that happiness like a dull knife turning through her gut. The belief in a fresh start first bled out slowly until he had left and taken the knife with him. "No, I guess not." She stated quietly, sadly. There was no use in relaying her hurt over this to him, not when she had hurt him more by going through his things.
The long silence stretched on as Melody continued to look down at her lap. Although Marianne was right about Ben remaining with her because of the baby, Melody felt as she had the morning after Valentine's Day — like she had willingly trapped Ben without his consent again. Only, she hadn't. It wasn't only her idea to bed him on this very same parlor floor, nor was it only her acts that forgot the condom. Ben was an equally active participant, and yet Melody was still buried under the burning layer of guilt.
She flinched visibly as he mentioned the apothecary for a second time. Hot and bitter remarks flew through her head despite the otherwise quiet conversation they were having. He more or less told Arthur about the potion she took last spring, and, in doing so, made it plain he hadn't supported her decision. Even if he had pushed the vial towards her, even if he said things like 'If you don't want to keep it, don't,' and 'I want out' Ben didn't agree with the choice Melody had agonized over. Somehow, knowing that made her grief over her decision hurt all the more.
No, she didn't forgive Ben for the betrayal.
Gus nosed at her skirts, a thankful distraction from the tears that were building behind her eyes. Crying wouldn't solve anything and Ben likely wouldn't even be sympathetic to them. Not if he was furious enough with her to tell Arthur a great many vile things about her, anyway. Melody dropped a hand from her lap to scratch his head without thinking before shaking her head no. "I couldn't — I can't live through that a second time." She answered brokenly at a near whisper. Her eyes looked to him but for a split second before turning sharply to the wall opposite him.
![[Image: dqAG6wz.png]](https://i.imgur.com/dqAG6wz.png)
beautiful set by mj
The long silence stretched on as Melody continued to look down at her lap. Although Marianne was right about Ben remaining with her because of the baby, Melody felt as she had the morning after Valentine's Day — like she had willingly trapped Ben without his consent again. Only, she hadn't. It wasn't only her idea to bed him on this very same parlor floor, nor was it only her acts that forgot the condom. Ben was an equally active participant, and yet Melody was still buried under the burning layer of guilt.
She flinched visibly as he mentioned the apothecary for a second time. Hot and bitter remarks flew through her head despite the otherwise quiet conversation they were having. He more or less told Arthur about the potion she took last spring, and, in doing so, made it plain he hadn't supported her decision. Even if he had pushed the vial towards her, even if he said things like 'If you don't want to keep it, don't,' and 'I want out' Ben didn't agree with the choice Melody had agonized over. Somehow, knowing that made her grief over her decision hurt all the more.
No, she didn't forgive Ben for the betrayal.
Gus nosed at her skirts, a thankful distraction from the tears that were building behind her eyes. Crying wouldn't solve anything and Ben likely wouldn't even be sympathetic to them. Not if he was furious enough with her to tell Arthur a great many vile things about her, anyway. Melody dropped a hand from her lap to scratch his head without thinking before shaking her head no. "I couldn't — I can't live through that a second time." She answered brokenly at a near whisper. Her eyes looked to him but for a split second before turning sharply to the wall opposite him.
beautiful set by mj