U is for Understand
"I am sorry," Augustine Sycamore told Grace when she opened up her front door.
"For what?" Grace asked, confused and apprehensive.
"For not helping raise Calem," Augustine said. "For not being there when you were pregnant. For leaving you at the airport. I am sorry."
Grace stared for a while. Finally, her shoulders slumped a she sent a silent 'thank you' that he never said he was sorry for Calem. She would have closed the door right then. "You don't have to be sorry. If I was a better person, I would have told you sooner."
"But I never tried to get in touch," Augustine weakly argued. "I should have gone to see you at one of your races, or focused on reconnecting with you."
"It was ten years, Augustine," Grace said dryly. "If we were going to reconnect, we would have done it a long time ago."
"I will not let you go again," Augustine vowed. Grace blinked back in surprise at his fierce tone. "I made that mistake once, but I will not do it to my best friend twice."
"It's been ten years," Grace said again. "A lot has changed."
"But you will always be my best friend," Augustine told her. "No matter what, I will not let you go again."
Grace was silent, analyzing him. She asked one more question to make sure, "So, you won't run?"
"Never," Augustine promised.
"Then I won't either," Grace told him. She stuck out a hand, "Thank you, Augustine."
Augustine shook her hand firmly. "Anything for you, Grace."