“hapter 17
To find joy in the small, ordinary moments.
To build a life that felt like my own.
One evening, as I stood on my balcony watching the city lights, my phone buzzed with a message from Emily.
Proud of you, girl. Keep shining.
I smiled typing back a quick reply: “Thanks, Em. I’m getting there.”
And I was
For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be.
ing m my couch, sipping chamomile tea and thumbing through a book I’d mirate to Caish le
My heart skipped a beat, bent Egicky prided the cranion away I’dbern here before dawn into his bit only to leave with more questions and heartache
Lopened the den triactarely, and fleur be unok, hand shoved deep lots the pockets of his jacket, his face a mixpl exhaustion and determination.
mlphia and 1,” be clanted hiveske uteady. “n’s pres Indther the truth. About
tin wach hung in the ah, heavy amit unshakable
Hiring to keep my emerims in the k. “And you think thatchanges anything?”
I steppedankki, letting him in, though I wasn’t run why.
the paced the length of my living soon, his movements i rutless and uncertain, before finally turning to dare me.
mijn persavers someone who loves her the way she deserves to be loved,” he said, his voice quiet hot fem “And so do you.”
„Tubbing my temples. “Alex, what are you doing? Why are you begel
” he said simply. “Because should’ve chosen you a long time ago, and I didn’t. And I hate myself for it. But I’m trying to make it right”
– shook pak head, a fortes Diaph escaping me “it’s not that simple, Alex. You don’t get to just walk in here and expect everything to fall into place because you finally made a decision”
on I Live simple,” he said, his voler rising with ft untration. “I know I’ve hurt you, and I know I don’t deserve your Forgiveness. But I couldn’t things
“And aludt di puu raport me to do with that?” Tanked, my voice trembling. “You think I can just longer the years I spent waiting for you! The nights I used because I mam tenough for you
The fact that you’ve only come to me now, alter everything fell apart?”
(they were.”
[widthy. “I don’t expect that I don’t expect amphing, Laim. I just needed you to know the trut
Trat den at the couch, the weight of his words pressing down on me. The ith does the angthing, Alex
ADATË, Sming Arm “But maybe it’s a start.
dued at tim trally looked at him, and saw the sincerity in his ares. H
Ha makann every word.
-Lupent so much of my life wrapped up in youd, my voice steady but tinged with sadness. “I defined myself by how much space I took up in your heart, and I can’t do that anymore.
dis ka vw Tartused, and be leaned forward, bis elbows resting on his kners don’t want you to feel that way. I don’t want you to think you’re not enough.”
mark tan absut læringenough. “Luidfamly. “It’s about finally realizing that I don’t need you to feel whole. That my worth isn’t red whether or not you love me.”
He nodded slowty, humgression pained but understanding.
But years, I thought you were my happy ending.” I continued. “But I that I don’t need an ending to be happy. I just need to focus on red and the life want to build
said, his wodne breaking
a quiet acceptance of what was and what couldn’t be
followed was beary, but it was the mating all we’d shared in the past. This felt itterent aquist
want to kem pos, Laum,” Alex said finally, his voice barely above a whisper
He had ruuang – hatefugered the again ‘very were just
I naked, thing the motion lati like it was tearing me apart. “li’s not about what we were, Alex’s about what I do now. And Imel to be somewhead by you.”
He stopped par big and boked at iter, läs nym. filled with something Trouldn’t quite tanie. “Dhope you lind everything you’re looking for, Lauren.“
The walled turke dei, passing with than the kid. “The what it’s ma
I’m sorry. For everything ”
samt kara dlm kekang, last year, that letting like part of myself.
That night, as i sat by far widely, though fatados.
The rife lights in the distance, and i deli a gatet inte of peace selle great ine.
This was op lie
Muur te line, iine ta shape, mine to ren
