How can you not love those who loved and nurtured you from nothing?
Those who pushed you to become the best version of yourself?
Those who were once everything for you?
Once, a few years ago, Rachel’s parents came up in a conversation. I asked her if she missed them. If she still loved them. I remember her tearing up and taking a long minute before she answered, “Yes.”
You can love someone with everything that you are. And you can know, deep within yourself, that you have to let them go.
“If that’s true, Karan, then apologize, and let’s end this right now,” my dad finally speaks out. “It’s not too late.”
Everything in my life has been orchestrated by my parents. They’ve been the main driving force behind every decision I’ve made.
Everything, except Rachel.
She’s the only thing I've ever gotten to choose for myself. And Rachel chose me. We both made that very clear to each other over the last few weeks.
I’m going to choose her over and over again until the day I die.
“Be very careful what you’re going to say next,” I tell them both, placing my hands on the table.
“I’m not going to be made the villain here,” Mom continues. “I—”
“I’m not here to apologize, and I’m not going to sweep this under the rug,” I interrupt her. “You can either accept my terms, or not. It’s your choice. And choices have consequences.”
I look at them both, alternating between my mother and father.
“So, that’s it?” Mom squeals. “All of a sudden, you’re in charge, and we either bow down to your rules, or you throw us away like trash?”
“That’s not how it is—”
“You’re a disappointment, Karan.”
My father’s words echo through my ears, entering my body, and wreak all sorts of havoc inside. They bounce back and forth,destroying what I’ve built, the fragile confidence and self-worth that I’ve attempted to nurture from the scraps they’ve been tossing me.
There’s nothing else to say, then.
This time, when I leave, I don’t feel much of anything. An alien numbness slowly takes over my body like vines. Logically, I should be heartbroken, angry, scared—anything—but it’s that grey quiet that engulfs me.
The only thing that keeps me from drowning in this sea of apathetic misery is the knowledge that Rachel, Cayce, and Corey are out there waiting for me.
They’re the ones I’m fighting for.
Chapter 39
Rachel
As soon as Karan walks through the door, I instinctively know something’s wrong.
He doesn’t say anything. Even his posture wouldn’t betray what’s really going on under the surface; he’s standing proud and tall, shoulders held back.
It’s all in his eyes. Those beautiful brown eyes, so full of warmth, have always had a unique light that I’ve recognized as Karan’s true essence.
But when he comes inside, it’s like that light has gone out.
I want to ask him what happened; I want to jump into his arms and pull him into the safety of what we’ll continue to build together. But the boys immediately jump from the bed, their attention on the movie gone and given to their father instead.
“Are we gonna go now?” Cayce asks, unable to contain his excitement.
