NICOLE

Roman stares at me for a long time without saying anything. I'm waiting for his response anxiously, but it feels like an eternity has already passed and it still hasn't come.

At this point, I'm just assuming the worst. He'll tell me that I should never have gone there, though I already know that, and he'll hate me for what I caused.

That's what I expect.

"I'm sorry," I tell him. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I didn't mean any harm by it. I just wanted her to stop. I ...