NEVER WILL I TRY

t. The bond he had built with Naomi felt unshak

subtle changes: her hesitant responses, the way he

or something she'd eventua

rived in a way h

in his living room, Naomi

t pry-he wasn

ion caught hi

her expression tight, and

Jabari asked, conce

ighed. "There's somethi

heavy with a weight Jabar

sper. "His name is Jerry. We divorced a couple of years ago, but...

he words hitting him li

d? You never tho

ed with guilt. "I

scare you away or

. "Naomi, you've been keeping a huge part of y

d away, standing to pace the room

again, and the p

he?" Jabari's voice broke,

odded s

times we had, of what we built together before thi

lization sunk in. Naomi was torn, and the fact that she

rabbing his jacket and leaving be

visited in years. He ordered whiskey, the burn in his throa

ionship had ended in heartbreak, and now, just as he thought he'd foun

of pain and self-doubt. Was he not enoug

lieve in something he thought he'd lost forever. But now, all he could se

ears. He had shown up out of nowhere, apologizing for the mistakes

to the life they had shared. It wasn't love, not anymore, but it was history. And h

She didn't want to hurt him, but she also couldn't deny

's Rec

eavier heart. He couldn't stop replaying Naomi's confession, c

ling. By evening, he found himself sitting by the river,

get it right?" he

ve that wasn't meant for him. He needed to focus on himself, to reb

ve would ha

i's

ad been in weeks. "We're not meant to be, Jerry," she told him, h

ard with Jabari either. He deserved someone who could lov

essage brief but heartfelt. You deserve

, he knew she was right. He put down his phone and stared out

had hoped for, but it wa

mised himself, he wou