GRAVITY | R. DIAS

• 39 •

July 20, 2024

Months pass by and Martha doesn't see or hear Rúben again. He still follows her on instagram, but he doesn't like her posts anymore. The words spoken on Easter clearly worked.

Erling still asks Martha to come an watch games or come to birthday parties, but she politely declines every invite, with the understanding from the tall Norwegian. But today she couldn't say no since it's Erling's 24th birthday and he's one of her friends. It would be stupid not to come because of a certain Portuguese.

She knows Rúben will be there. He's Erling's teammate after all. But the blonde girl finally feels ready to see him again and talk everything out. The last few months she really had the time to think it all through and how she was going to say it to him.

With a smile on her face she walks into the party venue. What she doesn't expect is for everyone to be there already and yelling surprise when she walks in.

"Erl what is this?! This was supposed to be your party," she says once her giant friend walks towards her.

"But it's also your birthday in three days, so I wanted to throw a joined birthday party," he smiles.

Martha pulls him in a hug. "Thank you Erling," she whispers in his ear.

After the hug with Erling everyone else walks up to her and greets her. Everyone she knows has been invited plus of course Erling's friends, since it's a joined party. Martha greets everyone with an even bigger smile, than when she entered the place, but then Rúben walks up to her. Besides her Erling stiffens and protectively puts a hand on her back.

"Hi Martha, happy birthday," Rúben says, nervously picking at the gift in his hands. He too had time to think about the stuff that occurred and had come to the conclusion that he needed the blonde woman in his life, but he was going to give her as much time as she needs.

Martha softly smiles. "Thank you Rúben," she carefully pulls the man in a hug, taking him by surprise. "Can we talk later?" she whispers in his ears and the Portuguese softly nods. Then she lets go with a smile still on her face.

"You can put your gifts on the table over there mate," Erling interrupts the moment between the two.

"Oh okay," Rúben mutters and walks towards the table. Martha quickly glances at the gift in his hands. Yellow wrapping paper she notices, which makes her smile even bigger.

•••

The greetings are all done and Martha is now sitting with Alex, Dan, Martin and her very pregnant sister at a table. Anna's now almost 33 weeks into her pregnancy and she's absolutely glowing.

"Are you talking to Rúben tonight Mar?" Alex asks suddenly.

"I am, but it seems like Erling is keeping him away from me," Martha says while scanning to room to look for the Portuguese man. She finds him sitting him at a table with Bernardo and John and their girlfriends. He's looking in her direction and gives her a small smile when he notices her looking.

"I think now's your time. Erling just left for the bathroom," Anna says.

Martha signs with her head to Rúben and he seems to get the message. He immediately stands up and excuses himself to his friends. Before walking towards the blonde, he passes by the table with gifts and takes his gift for Martha with him.

They find a table a little more secluded and it bit less noisy. Nervously Martha smiles in his direction once they sit down. How was she going to say what she had decided?

But it is Rúben that begins. "I'm sorry Martha for the way I reacted. I had no right to be jealous of Dele. It's just so hard to see you with someone else when all I want is to be the man you smile at every day," he speaks.

"The moment we met I knew there was something special about you and you've enchanted me ever since. I know what happened wasn't okay, but a friend once told me that everything happens for a reason. Maybe that reason is for us to be together. So Martha I hope you can give me one more chance to get to know you and do this the right way,"

Martha smiles tightly after hearing those words. They make it even more difficult to tell him her decision, but she has to for both of them.

"I'm sorry Rúben," she starts and immediately all the hope is drained from the Portuguese's face at hearing those three words. "I'm sorry for getting mad at you on Easter," hope appears back.

"I just wasn't ready to face you yet. I was still processing everything that had happened. Now I am ready. Yes I was infatuated with you. And yes I have never felt this way with someone else. But what happened really opened up deep wounds. As you know I have been cheated on in the past. Not once but multiple times," Martha bites her lip to stop tears from forming in her eyes.

Softly Rúben puts a hand on hers, encouraging her to go on. "This made me really insecure and it scarred me for life. I will never be able to fully commit to someone because I know there will always be that feeling that I'm not enough for them. I know you'll now say that I'm enough, but I am not Rúben because of the way we happened. I'll always be doubting your loyalty and I'll never be able to fully trust you. And even if my heart will love you 100 percent, my brain won't. So I'm sorry Rúben, I can not give you another chance, because I don't want to string you along. You deserve more than that,"

"I don't Martha. I cheated on Emma. I don't deserve that," Rúben says, tears also forming in his eyes. "But I respect your decision because I love you Martha. I know you don't believe it, but it's the truth. Who knows maybe one day in the future we'll meet again and start over," he caresses her hand and then brings it up to his lips.

"I better go now, Erling is glaring at me," he softly kisses her hand and then leaves, leaving his gift on the table.

Martha wipes her tears and takes the gift in her hands. Carefully she unwraps it. Inside is a frame with pressed flowers, daffodils to be specific.

'Because I was never able to give them to you and Ethan told me they're your favourite.

Love Rúben'

One day, Martha thinks while another tear slides over her cheeks.

•••

So this is the last chapter of this story. I know it isn't a happy ending, but don't worry I'll be writing a sequel to Martha and Rúben's story and maybe who knows, they'll still get it ;)
The new story will take some time before I upload it, because I've only just started writing it. I'll definitely inform you when it's going online.
Thanks fo reading!