Annie felt a glimmer of hope for her marriage as she prayed with Thomas and heard his sincere apologies. She knew that forgiving him was the first step towards healing their relationship, but it was not an easy road.

As days turned into weeks, Annie found herself struggling with feelings of anger and resentment towards Thomas. She couldn't forget the pain he had caused her, and the trust that had been broken between them.

Thomas noticed Annie's struggle and felt helpless in knowing how to comfort her. He knew that he had caused her pain and that he couldn't just expect her to forgive him overnight.

"Annie, I know I hurt you deeply, and I'm sorry. I want to do everything I can to make things right between us, but I know it won't be easy. I want to ask for your forgiveness again, and I promise to keep working on myself and our marriage every day."

Annie listened to Thomas's words but couldn't bring herself to forgive him fully yet. She knew that forgiveness wasn't just a feeling, it was a choice. She had to choose to forgive him, even when her heart still felt wounded.

As she struggled with her emotions, Annie turned to God for strength and guidance. She read her Bible every day, seeking wisdom and comfort in His words.

One day, she came across a verse that spoke directly to her heart. "Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." (1 Peter 3:9)

Annie realized that she had been holding onto her anger and bitterness towards Thomas, and that it was only hurting her in the long run. She knew that she had to start repaying evil with blessings if she ever wanted to find true forgiveness and healing.

She started to look for ways to bless Thomas, even in small ways. She cooked his favorite meals, wrote him love notes, and listened to him when he wanted to talk.

At first, Thomas was surprised by Annie's sudden change in behavior, but he soon realized that she was trying to forgive him and move forward in their marriage. He started to show his appreciation for her efforts by being more attentive and loving towards her.

As time went on, Annie found that her anger and bitterness towards Thomas started to fade away. She realized that forgiving him was a process, and it wasn't something that happened overnight. But with God's help, she knew that she could get there eventually.

One day, Annie looked at Thomas and realized that she had truly forgiven him. She felt a weight lifted off her shoulders and a newfound love for him in her heart.

"Thomas," she said, "I want you to know that I forgive you. I know that we still have a lot of work to do in our marriage, but I'm willing to try. I believe that God has a plan for us, and I want to be a part of it."

Thomas felt a sense of relief wash over him as he heard Annie's words of forgiveness. He knew that they still had a long road ahead of them, but he was grateful for this first step towards healing their relationship.

"Annie, I'm so grateful for your forgiveness. I promise to keep working on myself and our marriage every day. I love you."

As they hugged, Annie knew that their journey of forgiveness and healing was far from over, but she had faith that God would guide them every step of the way.