Angelina met Pamela in brodie house And apologized to Pamela.

   

The chill of the Edinburgh air seemed to cling to the walls of Brodie House, a damp, echoing presence that mirrored the anxiety churning in Angelina’s stomach. She’d chosen the    location carefully, hoping its historical gravitas would lend weight to the words she needed to say. It felt suitably somber for a meeting that had been years overdue Angelina paced before the imposing portrait of Deacon Brodie, the infamous inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Jekyll and Hyde. The dichotomy of Brodie’s respectable facade and secret double life felt strangely relevant to her own situation. She’d presented a respectable facade for years, all the while harbouring a guilt that gnawed at her Then, she saw Pamela enter. Pamela, with her usual understated elegance, her silver hair pulled back in a sleek bun, her eyes sharp and unwavering. Angelina swallowed, the apology she’d rehearsed catching in her throat Pamela," Angelina said, her voice barely a whisper Pamela nodded, her expression unreadable. "Angelina. You wanted to meet." She didn't offer a hug, a handshake, or even a perfunctory smileAngelina took a deep breath. "Yes. I… I needed to talk to you. To apologize Pamela raised an eyebrow, a sliver of curiosity flickering in her gaze. "For what, specifically? It's been a long time The years seemed to crumble away, and Angelina was transported back to the university, to the whirlwind romance with David, and the betrayal that had ripped apart their friendship. "For… for David Silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the distant rumble of a bus on the Royal Mile David," Pamela echoed, the name tasting like ash on her tongue. "That was… a long time ago, Angelina. Ancient history It may be ancient history for you," Angelina said, her voice trembling, "but it's haunted me. I know what I did was wrong. I knew you were in love with him, and I… I still pursued him. I let my ego get the better of me. I let rivalry poison our friendship. I’m so, so sorry Tears pricked at Angelina’s eyes. "I convinced myself that you weren't 'serious' about him, that it was just a college fling. But that was a lie I told myself to justify my own selfishness. You deserved better. You deserved honesty. And you certainly didn't deserve to have your so-called friend steal the man you loved Pamela walked over to the window, her back to Angelina, gazing out at the cobbled street. "You hurt me, Angelina. Deeply. It wasn't just about David, though. It was about the betrayal. The fact that you, of all people, could do that to me I know," Angelina whispered. "And that's what I regret most. I ruined our friendship, a friendship that meant the world to me Pamela finally turned. Her eyes were still sharp, but Angelina thought she detected a hint of something else, perhaps a flicker of understanding. "You know, for years, I was angry. Consumed by it. But anger is a heavy burden to carry. Eventually, I realized that holding onto it was only hurting me So, you've forgiven me?" Angelina asked, hope blooming tentatively in her chest Pamela sighed. "Forgiveness isn't always about absolving someone of responsibility. It's about freeing yourself. I've moved on, Angelina. I have a good life She paused, studying Angelina's face. "But hearing you acknowledge what happened… hearing you apologize… it helps. It closes a chapter that's been open for far too long Angelina stepped closer, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you. For listening. For understanding, even if you can't completely forgive me. This means more to me than you know Pamela offered a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Don't dwell on the past, Angelina. We can't change it. But we can learn from it. And maybe, just maybe, we can even find a way to rebuild something, even if it's not exactly what we once had As they left Brodie House, the Edinburgh air no longer felt quite so cold. A small, fragile seed of hope had been planted, a chance for a tentative reconciliation after years of silence and regret. The shadows of Deacon Brodie still lingered, a reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath a polished facade, but in the aftermath of Angelina's apology, a sliver of light had finally broken through