I’m fine.
She responded right away.
That is totally convincing… NOT.
What’s going on?
I already felt guilty about the entire Damien situation, and I didn’t want to add to it by burdening her with my drama. Besides that, the idea of rehashing what happened with Elijah was as appealing as chewing on glass or rubbing two pieces of styrofoam together.
I needed a moment to process it all.
I promise I’m fine. I’m just tired. Long day.
Hmm.
I still don’t believe you.
But okay. Try to get some rest.
I will.
Talk more tomorrow?
Duh! Lol.
Love you.
Love you too.
And the last text waiting for me was from Damien.
Damien
Are you doing okay? I hope you got everything figured out.
I just want you to know I’m thinking about you.
I didn’t know how to respond. Caught somewhere between wanting to put distance between us and craving his companionship.
The day I met Damien, he threw me into a deep, dark body of water. I had no sense of direction and no light to follow to the surface. I was thrashing around, trying to figure out which was up before I ran out of air.
If I let him, he’d suffocate me.
It was best if I said nothing to him. Just like Jade, if I tried to play off how upset I was, he’d know something was wrong.
I needed to focus anyway. I needed a plan.
Figuring out my next move was the only way I’d make it through this.
Elijah and I no longer had a future anymore.
I was done.
The difference between his past self and his current self was too extreme, and I valued myself too much to let him and his family treat me like this.
But still.
I had loved him so much. Dedicated the last six years of my life to him. I needed time to mourn our relationship and what it was.
