No More Waiting, She Chooses Love

The night breeze was gentle and cool.

Ernest's silhouette stretched long under the streetlight, so long it seemed he had grown taller since the last time we were together.

I stepped beside him, my shadow merging with his as if we were one.

This moment made my heart swell with a bittersweet ache.

It hurt so much I could barely breathe...

The pain made me think of his aloofness, and his impending marriage to the Clark family, which stung so badly I found myself defiantly asking, "What did you want to talk about, Ernest?" Ernest didn't look at me, just stared into the night, "Didn't you want to see Jefferson's game? It's next week. You could go; I'll buy you a plane ticket."

My heart clenched. What was this about seeing a game? It felt like he was just trying to get rid of me.

Now that he was getting married, was he afraid I'd ruin his prospects?

Ever since we parted ways, it felt like each time he hurt me, the wound was deeper than before.

I bit my lip. "Who said I wanted to go?"

I should have shouted that, but I just couldn't. My voice was weak, as if I had no strength at all.

wasn't that I lacked courage; I was just too heartbroken, so much that

want to cry in front of him. That

stay because I thought I was

things were different. He wanted me gone, making room for another woman, afraid I'd mess

he had no affection left for me. If I cried

to see you there," Ernest said, his

this were the past, I might have

now, his words felt more like a

dug my nails into my palm desperately, unable to say

his lips, "Jefferson is a win, as

int He should have

first

at me. "You missed his last award; don't miss

paused for a

he's

He won't participate in any more

missed this chance, I'd never see Jefferson compete

understand, Jefferson's games