Chapter 17 - The Last Meeting
Three years after the divorce, Sabrina saw Gavin again.
Not in court.
Not in a lawyer’s office.
At a transportation-industry conference.
They noticed each other across a crowded ballroom.
Gavin approached slowly.
“Hello, Sabrina.”
“Hello, Gavin.”
He looked different.
Older.
Calmer.
“How are you?”
“Good.”
“I've heard about Miller Horizon.”
She smiled.
“I've heard about SwiftFreight.”
The company had recovered.
Under new governance, it had expanded responsibly.
Crestview's investment had performed well.
Gavin had eventually regained a senior leadership position, though never the unchecked authority he once possessed.
“I owe you an apology that doesn't ask for anything,” he said.
“You already gave me one.”
“I know.”
They stood silently.
Then Gavin said, “I used to think losing you ruined my life.”
Sabrina waited.
“I was wrong. Losing you forced me to look at the life I had ruined myself.”
Sabrina felt something inside her finally settle.
“I hope you're happy, Gavin.”
He smiled sadly.
“I'm learning.”
Ethan appeared across the ballroom.
He saw Sabrina.
He did not interrupt.
He simply waited.
Gavin followed her gaze.
“Is that him?”
Sabrina smiled.
“Yes.”
“He looks patient.”
“He is.”
Gavin nodded.
“Good.”
Sabrina extended her hand.
Gavin looked at it, then shook it.
“Goodbye, Gavin.”
“Goodbye, Sabrina.”
She walked toward Ethan.
She did not look back.
May you like
This time, goodbye did not feel like losing something.
It felt like putting something down.
