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.

was just too heartbroken, so much that if I said another

want to cry in front of him.

him to stay because I

wanted me gone, making room for

If I cried now, it would only diminish me

happy to see you there," Ernest said, his

the past, I might have thought he

words felt more

to explode. I dug my nails into my palm desperately, unable to say

his lips, "Jefferson is a win, as long

int He should have

first place.

finally looked at me. "You missed his last award;

paused for a moment,

etition, he's

He won't participate in any

was telling me that if I missed this chance,

understand, Jefferson's games weren't