But when I got out of the hospital and saw her on Gideon’s social media, standing beside him, watching the sunrise, with a caption: [Some people will always shield you from the wind and rain.]
Something inside me just let go.
I suddenly didn’t care anymore about who she valued more—me or Gideon. I didn’t even care about her. I realized it had been a long time since I genuinely thought of her at all.
And now, looking at them, Gideon still seething and Dahlia waiting for me to fold like I always did, the same scene replaying as it had so many times before.
I took a step back and said, “I don’t need it anymore.”
“Dahlia,” I said, watching her expression twist in shock. “I don’t need you to give me anything.”
My voice stayed calm as I let out those words. It was as if I had finally seen my own heart clearly, as if I had really, truly moved on.
“If you think I take up too much of your time, and I’m too hard to deal with, just like your friends said...” I turned toward Gideon’s jealous, hateful stare and smiled, “Then this spoiled, unreasonable guy won’t waste any more of your life.”