Heartbreak Warfare :: Chapter Two

Hope sat uncomfortably in the Brady Pub. She stared mindlessly at the steaming cup of tea that sat untouched in front of her. It had been two days since she confessed her relationship with Aiden to Bo. She struggled to swallow the lump of guilt in her throat as she thought of his devastated face. Her lips still burned from his kiss.

"Hey…."

Hope looked up from her tea to see Jennifer staring at her with sympathetic eyes, "Hey."

"What are you doing here by yourself?" Jennifer asked as she joined Hope's table, "You look…."

"Terrible?" Hope asked, "Exhausted? Guilty?"

"I was going to say loaded…. as in a lot on your mind." Jennifer replied, "Do you want to talk about it? How's Bo?"

Hope exhaled, "He's awful. I haven't spoken to him in two days. He's devastated Jen."

Jennifer frowned, "Of course he's hurt. But it's not like you want to stay with Aiden do you?"

"Jennifer, I cheated on my husband." Hope spat bluntly, "That is what this boils down to. Bo was being held captive against his will and I'm here playing house with some new guy in town. I feel terrible. What was I thinking?"

"Hope, we all make mistakes." Jennifer soothed, "How were you supposed to know? We can't always assume the worst. It really seemed like he just abandoned you… I was here."

"I'm still guilty." Hope shrugged, "Bo has consumed me for most of my life. A part of me was desperate for the distraction. I was once again forced to be just Hope… instead of one half of Bo and Hope. Now that he's back… I don't even….Who am I?"

"You're still Hope." Jennifer whispered softly, "What do you want?"

"I want him." Hope whispered back, "We keep hurting each other…. but every time we go crashing down, we come back from it. He's what I want. He's the one I always want."

"Then maybe he just needs some time," Jennifer spoke soothingly as she reached for Hope's hand to give it a squeeze, "He loves you Hope. I know he does. If I know one thing that never changes, it is Bo loves you, and you love him."

Hope almost smiled, "He's done so much for me. He's such a big part of my life. I don't know why I wanted to just throw it all away."

"I don't think you consciously decided to just throw everything away Hope," Jennifer disagreed, "He's hurt you too."

"Two wrongs don't make a right." Hope argued, "Besides, we've worked through that. I wasn't always innocent. We've both made mistakes in our relationship."

"I'm just saying there are so many aspects of this entire situation." Jennifer surrendered.

"He's dealing with so much," Hope sighed, "I wish I could be there to help him through it."

"Like what?" Jennifer asked.

"All the aftermath of being held captive, the torture, the isolation….all the things that have changed now that he's home…." Hope trailed off.

"Bo has friends…." Jennifer offered, "He'll lean on them until he's ready to lean on you. When he's ready you both will pick up the pieces together."

"From your lips to God's ears." Hope begged.