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“I’ve missed you the whole time.”

“Yet you never came back. Why?” Willow accused.

“The longer I was gone the harder it was to come back. I felt so ridiculous giving up on this amazing thing we had. And for what? I ended up alone in a one-bedroom apartment with noisy neighbors.” Amy gave another tiny huff of laughter.

“Sorry your life wasn’t everything you imagined after you left.” Willow spat the words.

“That’s not what I meant and you know it,” Amy insisted.

“I don’t know much of anything anymore. I knew that I loved you and wanted a life together. And then I knew you were gone.”

“What about now? Could we try again?” Amy asked. Willow sighed.

She tried to imagine what it would be like for Amy to come back. For them to build the life together that they had planned. But her brain kept exchanging Amy’s face with Mel’s. Her heart couldn’t lie, it only had feelings for Mel.

“I’m sorry. I don’t feel the same way about you, anymore. I found someone else. She’s amazing and I want a future with her,” Willow admitted.

Amy nodded her head slowly. Willow knew Amy was trying to process her words.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. You’re a catch. It was silly to think you’d stay single long,” Amy smirked. Willow gave a small smile of her own.

“I shouldn’t have left. Especially not the way I left,” Amy added. She walked towards the door. Willow made no move to stop her. Amy opened the door and then she was gone.

Willow sank down on her couch. An hour later her Mom came through the door. Angela was in particularly high spirits, all smiles.

“I brought some things for dinner. Will Amy be staying to eat with us tonight?” Willow was reminded yet again that subtlety was not her Mother’s strong suit.

“Mom, sit down,” Willow said, keeping her tone even.

Angela looked at Willow and frowned. She sat down in a chair beside the couch.

“Where’s Amy?”

“She left,” Willow said simply.

“Did something happen?” Angela asked.

“I don’t want to be with Amy. I want to be with Mel. I don’t know if it’s her job or some other mundane thing that caused you not to want me to be with her. But none of those things matter to me. Since I’m the one dating her, that’s the most important thing.”

Angela eyed her for a moment.

“I guess if that’s what you want I won’t try to change your mind,” Angela scowled.

“What could you possibly have against Mel?” Willow asked.

“I don’t have anything against her. You and I haven’t been close since the divorce. I thought that finding this woman you were in love with and helping the two of you reconnect would be a nice thing. I think I underestimated your feelings for Mel. My heart was in the right place. I just don’t always have terrific follow through.”

Willow had to laugh at her mom’s explanation. It was too perfect. Still, she felt a tender spot in her heart for all the unnecessary trouble her mom had gone to on her behalf.

“In the future all I need you to do is support whatever my current relationship is,” Willow advised.

“I guess that’s fair. I’m trying not to be so pushy. It’s hard when I think I know what you should be doing,” Angela insisted. Willow flashed her mother a withering stare.

“But you’re right. I shouldn’t meddle with your personal life,” Angela added.

“That’s all I can ask,” Willow said, allowing a hint of sarcasm to come through her tone.

“What are you going to do now?” Angela asked.