CHAPTER 3

8:30 am. It's only 8:30 in the morning but she felt like a nervous wreck. After getting that phone call from Matt yesterday, April couldn't sleep. She tried but to no avail. Finally fed up after tossing and turning she had gotten up and arranged her entire closet, cleaned her living room, and finished her laundry.

Her mother had called earlier to see how she was doing and if she was planning on taking the boards again. While she loves her family sometimes they drive her crazy and makes her want to stay out of Ohio altogether, afraid she'd run into one of them. Deciding to just head out early and take a walk to clear her head, April grabbed her purse and phone and went out the door. The morning seemed beautiful and perfect although her day and life was far from perfect.

After what felt like hours, she spotted Matt stepping in to the café looking sharp in a suit. Wait, a suit? Why was he in a suit? She hurriedly went in to the café and scoured for him. He looked so out of place amongst all the people around him.

"Good morning Matt," April asked while taking the seat opposite him. "Why are you in a suit? I mean you look great but are you going somewhere?"

"Good morning to you too. Well…..I had an interview today. Grey Sloan is a great hospital don't get me wrong but I am still trying to find my footing in exactly what I'll be doing later on. I know I won't be a paramedic for life. There will be a career change further along so I figured I can start finding that now.

"Oh. Do you at least have an idea to what you want to do? I mean after you stop being a paramedic?" April didn't know where this was going at all.

"As of right now, not really. I mean it'll be within the healthcare area since I already have experience being a paramedic and I think it will be an easier transition. But like I said, I haven't found my niche yet."

"So, uh, where was your interview? Are you still staying in Seattle?"

"My interview was at the conference center earlier. It was short and easy. I had applied for a job at the Texas Medical Center a few weeks ago but I never heard anything from them until last week. Before I got the phone call, I figured that it'll be a pass and that I would just scratch it off my list. When I did get the call, they told me that I would have to go in for an interview but since I live here they will just have to do a virtual interview at the conference center. That is why I am in a suit this morning."

"What….when did you apply? How come you didn't mention anything before?"

"Because the chances of me getting that phone call was slim to none. And if I didn't get it then at least only I knew about it."

"Matt! When did you apply?"

Matt looked at his joined hands and softly replied, "about four weeks ago I submitted my application."

April sighed and looked at her boyfriend before opening giving him her reply. "What was wrong with telling me? If you didn't get the call then you didn't get the call. But you try again. You apply at another hospital or medical center in the US. You can't hide this from me Matt. This would have been a life changer for the both of us. If you got the job, I would have to know eventually."

"What about you April? What is it that you are hiding from me? It seems like there's a whole package in you that I do not know about but only a few people do. Sharing does not go one way April, it's both."

"Can we go somewhere where there's not a whole lot of people around us?"

With a strained voice Matt answered, "yeah the park across the street there's a bench near the pond."

Matt paid for their coffee and walked out the door crossing the pedestrian and onto the park with April to this right.

April took a moment to gather her thoughts before speaking as they sat down on the bench. "I do am hiding something from you. " Matt had a look of pain in his eyes as she started.

"Am I right to guess that it has something to do with Jackson? I am, am I? "

"I am sorry for keeping this from you and leading you to believe all along. But yes it has something to do with Jackson. We slept together last year." She couldn't bear to even look him straight in the eye after voicing it out. She knew he was deeply hurt for keeping such a big thing from him. "It was right before boards…right before I failed. Everything around us was falling apart and we only had each other."

Matt didn't even look the least bit livid. But April knew that he was in agony. She had lied to him and big.

"Do you still love him?"

"I never stopped but I learned to love you. It wasn't that I didn't but under different circumstances it would only have been you."

"I know April. I know." Staring into the distance, Matt grabbed April's right hand and held it in his. He understood that he had to let her go. He couldn't be angry at her because she still loves Jackson. She just couldn't have a change of heart. One look at the two of them together at work gave him a glimpse of who and where she truly belongs.

"Matt….."

"I love you enough to let you go. April, we both know that if we stay together it wouldn't be fair. I want to see you happy and if that means that we have to part ways then we must. Staying together but being miserable won't be good for us. He is a good man April."

"Thank you. I know I hurt you and it was my mistake for hiding it. I do hope and wish that you will find your own happiness. A very lucky lady out there will be blessed to have you in her life. You were a blessing in mine. And if you find it in your heart to forgive me someday, I would like us to be friends with no animosity."

"I will. I'll hopefully see you around. Like you said, never give up."

April grasped Matt's face between her hands and gently stroked her thumb over his tear strained face. "Good luck out there. You are an amazing man, Matt. I wish you all the best. Goodbye." April gave him a peck on the cheek, turned around and began walking away. A short chapter in her life has closed as she continues to march forward and pick up the fallen pieces of a broken heart.