Clara stepped off the plane and into the bustling terminal at JFK Airport. The bright lights and noise assaulted her senses, but she forced herself to keep moving. She had spent the past few weeks traveling around Europe, trying to forget about Marcus and the divorce papers he had served her. But now, it was time to face reality.

She hailed a taxi and gave the driver her address. As the car pulled away from the curb, Clara looked out the window at the familiar sights of New York City. She had grown up here, and it had always been her home. But now, everything felt different.

When the taxi pulled up in front of her apartment building, Clara paid the driver and got out. She stood on the sidewalk for a moment, looking up at the building. It looked the same as it always had, but she knew that things had changed.

She walked up the steps and into the lobby. The doorman greeted her warmly, but she could tell that he was surprised to see her. She had been gone for so long, and he probably thought she wasn't coming back.

Clara took the elevator up to her floor and walked down the hallway to her apartment. She unlocked the door and stepped inside. The place was exactly as she had left it, but it felt empty and cold.

She walked over to the window and looked out at the city. The view was beautiful, but it only made her feel more alone. She had thought that traveling would help her forget about Marcus, but it had only made her realize how much she missed him.

Clara sat down on the couch and buried her face in her hands. She didn't know what to do. She had spent the past few weeks trying to convince herself that she was better off without Marcus, but now that she was back in New York, she wasn't so sure.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Clara got up and opened it. Standing there was a delivery man holding a large envelope.

'Clara Bennett?' he asked.

'Yes,' she replied.

'Package for you,' he said, handing her the envelope.

Clara took the envelope and closed the door. She walked over to the couch and sat down, staring at the envelope. She had a feeling she knew what was inside.

She opened the envelope and pulled out a stack of papers. Sure enough, it was the divorce papers. Marcus had signed them, and they were ready to be filed.

Clara's heart sank. She had known this was coming, but seeing the papers in her hand made it all feel so real. She flipped through the pages, reading the legal jargon. It all seemed so cold and impersonal.

Suddenly, the phone rang. Clara jumped, startled. She picked up the receiver and said hello.

'Clara, it's Marcus,' a voice said on the other end of the line.

Clara's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't spoken to Marcus since he had left for New York.

'Hi,' she said, her voice sounding small and weak.

'Clara, I got the papers,' Marcus said. 'I just wanted to make sure you got them too.'

'Yes, I got them,' Clara replied.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Clara could hear Marcus breathing, and she could feel his presence even though he was miles away.

'Clara, I'm sorry,' Marcus said finally. 'I know I hurt you, and I'm sorry.'

Clara didn't say anything. She didn't know what to say. She was still angry and hurt, but at the same time, she could hear the sincerity in Marcus's voice.

'Clara, I still love you,' Marcus said. 'I know I made a mistake, but I want to fix things. I want us to be together again.'

Clara's heart fluttered. She had been waiting to hear those words for so long. But now that she had, she wasn't sure if she could trust them.

'How can I trust you?' she asked, her voice cracking.

'I know it's going to take time,' Marcus said. 'But I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn your trust back. I want to prove to you that I'm a changed man.'

Clara took a deep breath. She wanted to believe Marcus, but she was still scared.

'What if you change your mind again?' she asked.

'I won't,' Marcus said. 'I've learned my lesson. I know what's important now, and that's you.'

Clara thought for a moment. She knew that Marcus had hurt her, but she also knew that she still loved him. Maybe it was worth giving him another chance.

'Okay,' she said finally. 'I'll give you another chance.'

Marcus let out a sigh of relief. 'Thank you, Clara,' he said. 'I won't let you down.'

Clara hung up the phone and sat down on the couch. She felt a sense of relief wash over her. She had made a decision, and now it was time to see where it would lead her.

The next few weeks were a blur of activity. Marcus flew back to New York, and he and Clara spent every waking moment together. They talked about what had happened and how they could move forward.

Marcus was true to his word. He was patient and understanding, and he did everything he could to make Clara feel loved and safe. He even quit his job and started looking for a new one in New York so that he could be closer to her.

Slowly but surely, Clara's trust in Marcus began to grow. She saw the changes he was making in his life, and she knew that he was serious about their relationship.

Finally, after months of hard work and dedication, Marcus proposed to Clara again. This time, she said yes without hesitation.

They planned a small wedding, just the two of them and a few close friends. It was a beautiful ceremony, filled with love and happiness.

As Clara stood at the altar, looking into Marcus's eyes, she knew that she had made the right decision. She had forgiven him for his mistakes, and she had given him a second chance. And now, they were starting a new life together, filled with hope and promise.