Laura: Five months ago I caught my boyfriend, Zac, cheating on me with a mutual friend of ours. I immediately dumped him, knowing I could never forgive him, but I walked away with so many questions unanswered and I haven't spoken to him since we broke up. But I got a text from him today, out of the blue, asking if we could meet up. Should I [[meet up with Zac]] or [[tell him to go to hell]]? Laura: But I am curious as to why he wants to meet all of a sudden and I do have questions I want answered... I feel like seeing him might bring me the closure I need to move forward. I feel like I should [[meet up with Zac]].
''You: But he cheated on you, Laura, nothing he can say will change that. I think by meeting him you're moving backwards instead of forwards and allowing him to open old wounds. Leave Zac in the past, [[ignore his text]], and move on with your life.''Laura: Just the person I was looking for! Do you have a minute? I'm in the middle of a crisis and in desperate need of advice.
''You: Of course, Laura! What's going on?''
Laura: Thank you, thank you! Here's [[The Story]]. Laura: You know what you're right. Nothing he can say will change the past. I'm going to pretend I never saw that message and move on with my life. In fact, I'm going to spend the night relaxing - I'll grab a [[bottle of wine]] on the way home and enjoy a hot bubble bath. Thanks for the advice! //Laura walks into the LCBO to purhcase a lovely bottle of wine for her relaxing night at home. As she scans the shelves for her favourite bottle she forgets to look where she's going and bumps into someone. She looks up and comes face-to-face with her ex-boyfriend, Zac.//
Laura's reaction: [[Oh shit...]] or [[Zac, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there.]]//I reply to Zac’s message, agreeing to meet him for coffee the following afternoon. But as I get ready to see him for the first time in months I find myself rethinking my decision; my nervousness manifesting into nausea and a throbbing headache. But I continue to get ready, trying to ignore my body’s obvious signals of discomfort. At one o’clock I take a deep breath, open the door to the coffee shop, and walk inside. I immediately see Zac at the back of the café saving us a booth. I slide into the bench across from him and pray I get the answers I came here for. //
''Zac: Wow. You look great, Laura.''
Laura: [[Cut the crap, Zac. Why am I here?]]
''Zac smiles: I guess, you weren't really planning on running into me...''
Laura responds with: [[brutal honesty]] or [[civility]]. ''Zac: It's okay. No harm. No foul. (he smiles) You're looking good, Laura.''
Laura: Thanks, so do you.
Zac: How've you been? I messaged you the other day but I never heard back.
Laura:[[Really? I didn't get a message from you.]] or [[I'm doing well.]]Laura: Quite frankly, no. I wasn't planning on seeing you here or anywhere else, for that matter. But since we are here why did you text me out of the blue Zac?
''Zac: Damn...''
Laura: What? Did you really think after all this time I'd have any interest in hearing from you at all?
''Zac: Maybe not, but I didn't think you would completely ignore my message either.''
Laura: Well that was my plan.
''Zac: Look you always treated me like a god and I didn't do the same for you. I disrespected you in the worst way possible and I'm sorry.''
Laura: I deserved to hear this apology months ago, Zac! Why am I just hearing this now?
[[Next]]''Zac: Because I miss you, Laur. You deserved better than me - ''
Laura: - and I still do, Zac.
''Zac: Come on let me take you out to dinner and prove to you that I'm a different man.''
Laura: The thing is, Zac, I don't care to find out. I don't want you back in my life. You destroyed what we had five months ago when you slept with Annie in our bed. There's no way in hell you can fix that.
''Zac: Let me try, please.''
Laura: Not a chance, babe.
//Laura turns on her heel and walks away from, Zac.//
[[One year later...]]''Zac: Look, right after you walked out that door I knew I made a huge mistake. I miss you, Laura and I want you back.''
Laura: It took you five months to figure that out? Five months to reach out to me?
''Zac: No. I've been spending the last five months doing shit to improve myself so I could be a better man for you.''
Laura: You can't be a better man for me, Zac, because I don't want you back.
''Zac: Come on let me take you out to dinner and prove to you that I've changed.''
Laura: You can't change the past, Zac. And at this point that's all that matters. Goodbye, Zac.
//Laura stands up from the table.//
Laura: Oh and please delete my number. You won't have any use for it.
//Laura starts to walk away from the table towards the nearest exit. When she hears a squeal that makes her look back.//
[[Next Page]]//One year later, Laura hears through the grapevine that Zac cheated on his most recent girlfriend. Laura shakes her head but smiles, proud of herself for never giving him a second chance.//
Annie squeals: Babe, what are you doing here?!
//Annie runs up to Zac and kisses him. Zac looks quickly at Laura aware that she's caught him being unfaithful for a second time.//
//Laura [[tells Annie what Zac has been up to]] or [[walks away]].//
//Laura turns back to the table//
Laura: Hey Annie!
''Annie (uncomfortable): Laura? What are you doing here?''
Laura: It's funny you ask. I actually just met Zac for coffee.
''Annie: No you didn't.''
Laura: Oh yes, I did. He asked me here because he wanted me back. Annie, you might've been a shitty friend but don't waste your time on this loser.
''Annie: Zac, how could you?! I thought you -''
Laura: I'll leave you two to figure all this out. Have fun, Zac.
//Laura walks out of the coffee shop.////Laura shakes her head, flips Zac the bird, and walks out the door.//
Laura: [[Zac, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there.]] ''Zac: Oh okay.''
Laura: Why did you message me?
''Zac: Alot has happened since we broke up, but I can't stop thinking about you. I wanted to see if I could take you out and we could catch up.''
Laura: I don't know, Zac.
''Zac: Look, I fucked up badly. But I've changed, nothing is the same without you around, Laura. I've been doing alot of soul searching, I went to therapy to try and figure out why I did what I did to you.''
Laura: Good for you, Zac. But you shouldn't be doing that stuff for me, you should get answers for yourself.
''Zac: You deserve answers too though.''
Laura: It's too late for answers now, Zac.
''Zac: Laura -
[[Continuation]]''Zac: You look amazing, Laura.''
Laura: Thanks so do you.
''Zac: Look, Laura, I'm gonna be honest. I miss you. I've spent the past five months missing you and trying to figure out why I did what I did to you. I don't have an excuse but I have seen a therapist to figure shit out.''
Laura: Good for you.
''Zac: I know I have no place asking, but will you let me show you that I've changed?''
Laura: I think there's too much water under the bridge, Zac, it's better if we leave our relationship in the past.
''Zac: Come on. One dinner.''
Laura: Why did you sleep with her?
''Zac: It had nothing to do with you. Everything about that was my fault. You were amazing to me, Laura. I still feel awful about what happened, and if we walk away from each other today and never talk again. I hope you can take comfort in that.
Laura: Thank you.
''Zac: Look I have two tickets to see Bird in concert at the Air Canada Center on Friday. Come with me. Let me show you that I've changed.''
//Laura pauses. Trying to decide whether she should go or not. He definitely seemed different - more open...//
Laura: Okay I'll go to the concert with you. But it's not a date. Just two friends hanging out...
''Zac smiles: Okay.''
[[Four years later]]Laura: Nothing you can say or do now can change the past and there's too much water under the bridge, Zac. I think it's best we leave our relationship in the past.
''Zac: Laura, please - ''
Laura: You look good, Zac. I'm glad you're figuring things out. I'll see you around.
//Laura grabs the bottle of wine she had been looking for and heads to check out.//Laura: So much has happened the last four years. Me and Zac broke up, got back together and worked through everything, we got married, and in less than a month we will be celebrating our one year wedding anniversary! I'm glad I gave him a second chance, some many really are capable of change...