No Place for Guilt

Her mind was full of guilt. After all, she had loved him dearly.

Then again, it was he who had taught her how worthless emotions like guilt and apology were.

Every bruise on her body screamed at her to stop feeling guilty. She hadn’t hurt him the way he had hurt her — day after day.

She walked out of his life and didn’t let him stop her this time. His relentless begging and threats in the name of love no longer chained her.

As it turned out, his love for her wavered the moment she pointed the gun at him. He couldn’t wait to let her go then.

Of course, he had always loved himself more than he cared to admit, she thought ruefully, as the door closed behind her with a violent thud. She found herself drenched in the silence that followed — a calmness settling in her mind.

Defying him and walking away from the miserable days he lovingly called their life together was how she finally showed love — love for herself.

Guilt had no place in her life ahead, she thought ruefully.

© Vinitha Dileep

This piece is written in response to the two hundredth and seventy-sixth edition of Fiction Monday inspired by the word prompt – GUILT hosted by yours truly. Do join in if you have a tale to tell.