Chapter 5 - THE CHOICE
Three months later, Daniel looked healthy enough that strangers would never guess he had almost died.
His skin had color again.
He had gained weight.
He returned to work.
He stopped needing dialysis.
For the first time in years, his body belonged to him.
His marriage did not survive the recovery.
Claire moved into her sister’s apartment.
Daniel kept asking her to come home.
She refused.
Then Vanessa became easy.
She didn’t talk about betrayal.
She didn’t ask why Daniel had lied.
She simply wanted him.
One night they sat on the balcony of Daniel’s apartment, drinking sparkling water.
“You still love her,” Vanessa said.
Daniel looked at her.
“Why would you say that?”
“Because you say her name when you’re angry.”
“That doesn’t mean anything.”
“It means something.”
Daniel stared at the city.
Vanessa moved closer.
“I’m not asking you to erase her.”
“What are you asking?”
“Choose.”
He looked at her.
“Me or the marriage you already destroyed.”
The sentence should have offended him.
Instead, it gave him permission.
The next morning, Daniel called Claire.
“Can we meet?”
They met in a coffee shop.
Claire looked thinner.
Daniel noticed she wasn’t wearing her wedding ring.
His stomach tightened.
“I’ve been thinking,” he began.
Claire almost smiled.
“Dangerous.”
He ignored it.
“I don’t think we can fix this.”
She stared at him.
Daniel continued.
“Too much happened.”
“You mean too much happened to you.”
“That’s not fair.”
Claire’s expression hardened.
“You cheated while I was helping keep you alive.”
“I told you, I didn’t sleep with her until after you left.”
Claire laughed.
A woman at the next table looked over.
“You think that helps?”
“I’m trying to be honest.”
“No. You’re trying to edit the timeline until you can live with yourself.”
Daniel clenched his jaw.
“I came here to tell you I’m moving on.”
Claire’s face changed.
“With Vanessa.”
“Yes.”
Silence.
Daniel expected anger.
Instead, Claire took a slow sip of coffee.
Then she nodded.
“Okay.”
That bothered him more than yelling would have.
“Okay?”
“What would you like me to do, Daniel? Fight her in the parking lot?”
“I thought you’d care.”
Claire stared at him.
“I cared so much it almost ruined me.”
Daniel frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“Nothing.”
She stood.
“Claire.”
She put cash beside her coffee.
“One day, when the excitement wears off, you’re going to remember who you were when you were sick.”
Daniel stood too.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means Vanessa met the man who survived.”
Her eyes locked with his.
“I knew the man who begged me not to let him die.”
Daniel went still.
Claire picked up her purse.
“And somehow, I loved both of them.”
She walked out.
Daniel watched her disappear.
That evening, Vanessa moved into the apartment.
She brought champagne.
Daniel couldn’t drink much because of his medication, but he took one sip.
“To second chances,” Vanessa said.
Daniel smiled.
“To second chances.”
Across town, Claire sat in her sister’s bathroom with a stack of bills.
Loan notices.
Credit statements.
A letter confirming the sale of her mother’s house.
Her sister, Rachel, knocked on the door.
“Claire?”
“I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not.”
Claire looked at one final envelope.
FINAL NOTICE.
Her hands trembled.
Then her phone rang.
Dr. Harris.
Claire stared at the name.
She almost ignored it.
Instead, she answered.
“Hello?”
“Claire, I need to talk to you about Daniel.”
She shut her eyes.
“I’m done talking about Daniel.”
“It’s not about your marriage.”
“Then what?”
The doctor hesitated.
May you like
“It’s about the money.”
Claire’s entire body went still.
