Miriam blushed slightly, she always did when Pearl had complimented her, it had been like that since the day they’d met, but as their eyes stayed locked together, she felt the heat spread over her face a little more, her heart quickening slightly. She still wasn’t sure how the other was still so welcoming to her, after what Miriam had been like, she was still beating herself down for not just taking the time to consider Pearl, to realise how brave the other had been to admit how she felt, and Miriam had all been selfish, and she’d let go too soon.
Seeing Pearl smile so brightly, it caused the blonde to do the same, Pearls smile was infectious, and now more than ever, it was beautiful to see. “Yeah? Are you sure?” She couldn’t stop herself from revealing the surprise of the others acceptance, of course, that had been her desired answer, but to actually have gotten it, well, it was looking like her birthday really would be special this year. “I know it’s probably felt like that for a while.” Miriam said with a heavy sigh, trying to stop herself from looking away from her ex. “Pearl, I… I really want to apologise, for everything I’ve put you through. As your wife, I should have been there for you, and yet… I was one of those people that left, and I wasn’t there for you like I promised I would have been.” Hazel eyes dared to look at Pearl again, properly this time, and she took a mouthful of her coffee. “You have come so far from that night that you told me, you have become this incredibly beautiful woman that you were meant to be, but you never changed who were you inside, you’ve always been Pearl, I was too blind to see that, but I just want to move forward, I want things to be nicer for us, for all of us.”
pearl reveled in her ex-wife’s rosy cheeks. she loved having that effect on her, still and it made her wonder if it was just miriam not being able to deal with a compliment in general, or whether pearl still had an effect on her. she hoped the latter.
she was happy to see miriam mirror her smile and she nodded before she answered: “of course, i’d love to spend time with you and him. i can’t imagine anything more fun.” she admitted and then took another sip of her coffee, trying to stay calm.
she hadn’t expected what came next and slowly moved the coffee cup from her lips back to the table. she bit her bottom lip and crossed her legs, a gesture that made her feel a little safer. “from what i understand of what happened, you... married a man, not a woman and you... are unable to feel attraction towards women. at least, that is what i understood back then.” she told her. “in that light i understand your reaction as a wife. i didn’t understand your reaction as my best friend. even if romantically we had no future, you didn’t... you didn’t need to drop me like that.” she explained and swallowed the lump in her throat as painful memories flooded back. “but i don’t want to be angry or sad anymore; i just want to be... happy.” she told her. “and hearing you say all that, it does help. to move on from what happened. i wished it hadn’t happened, and that we could have adapted to being a family with me as i am, but... it wasn’t meant to be... at least, back then.” she said, her eyes wide and hopeful.