"They died.Emma and Liam died in a car crash on the way to their honeymoon.Head-on collision.Both gone instantly."
"Devin.Christ, I'm so sorry."
"My mam blamed me.She said my anger and my refusal to forgive caused bad energy or some shite.That if I'd blessed the marriage, if I'd been there, maybe they'd still be alive."
"Devin, that's not how the world works.You didn't cause a car crash by being angry."
"I know that, but she said it anyway, and I couldn’t get past that so I left.Cut all of my family off.I’ve not spoken to any of them in three years."
I sit up and look at him properly."Your mother blamed you for your brother's death because you wouldn't go to his wedding to your ex."
"Yeah."
“That's fucking insane."
"I know."
"No.I don't think you do."Rage is fully burning now."You were betrayed by your brother and your ex, and your family told you to just accept it.To be happy for them.And when you couldn't, when you set a boundary, your mother blamed you for their deaths."
"Enya."
"No.That's abuse.That's emotional manipulation.That’s…Christ, I want to find your mother and tell her exactly what I think of her."
He laughs."Yeah?"
"Yeah.She had no right.No right at all.You did nothing wrong."
"I could've handled it better.I could have…I don't know, tried to move past it."
"Why should you have to?They betrayed you, and then your family chose them over you.You had every right to walk away."
He stares at me with something soft in his expression."You're furious on my behalf."
"Of course I am.You deserved better.You deserved a family who had your back, who protected you.Not...whatever that was."
"It's been three years.I'm over it."
"Are you?"
He's quiet for a beat.“Mostly.Some days, it still hurts knowing they all chose Liam over me, that my mam blamed me, that I lost my whole family in one go.That I’m blamed for something I didn’t cause.I was the one who was betrayed and yet I lost everything.”
"They're the ones who lost out, because you're everything, Devin.You're loyal and protective and kind and you deserve people who see that."
"I have you."
“Yeah, you do.And I see you.All of you.And I'm not going anywhere."
He pulls me back down and holds me tight."Thank you."
"For what?"
"For being angry on my behalf, for caring.It means more than you know."
"I'll always care, I’ll always defend you, and I’ll always have your back."
"I know.That's why I love you."
I smile, amazed at how much my life has changed.I never thought I’d find someone like Devin, someone who’d make me believe in love and safety, but the moment I met him I knew there was something different about him.Never in a million years did I think I’d end up in love with him, but life had plans for us.We were meant to be together.
