Anita savored the familiar flavors of her amala, the spicy kick of the pepper sauce a welcome distraction from the turmoil in her mind. She ate slowly, lost in thought, trying to make sense of the situation.
As she finished her meal, her phone buzzed with a text from Angel. "Hey, I'm so sorry about what happened. Rachel just showed up unexpectedly. Can we talk later?"
Anita's heart softened at Angel's apologetic words. She knew that Angel wasn't responsible for Rachel's behavior, and she wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt.
She typed out a reply, her thumbs hovering over the keyboard. "Yeah, we need to talk. But I need some time to process everything. Meet me at the park at 7 pm?"
Angel's response was immediate. "I'll be there. Thank you for understanding, Anita. I love you."
Anita's heart skipped a beat at the words. She loved Angel too, but she needed to be honest with herself about her feelings. Was she ready to face the challenges that came with loving someone with a complicated past?