Page 156 of Exodus

All of them.

I wasted my heart—wholly, completely. I wasted it, and it will never be mine again. I’ll never be whole.

I want to take back the years I spent hoping and praying for some returned affection. For the days and nights, and years, and months and hours and minutes, I questioned myself, my existence, and lost myself in them all.

I resent my father and my love for him.

I resent the men who made me.

I wish I never met any of them.

“FUCK YOU!”

In a burst of anger, I clear off the top of Roman’s dresser scattering mail and his cologne bottles.

Just as fast as it comes, it ebbs, but it’s there, it’s always been there, my pride, my self-respect, all that I had put aside just to give my fucking heart a chance.

And for what?

I’m a lover who got nothing in return but a broken heart and tattered self-image. I betrayed myself for the chance of being loved.

“No more! No more!”

It was never worth it.

But I am. I am worth it.

I didn’t ask him for anything, but why did he have to make it so fucking painfully clear that he didn’t love me?

I’m the daughter of no one.

How could my mother love a man so cruel?

How could I follow in her footsteps and fall for a like-minded man whose agenda and role in life came first over my affection?

Money. Power. I’d give it all up just to make myself whole again.

The smell of cologne permeates the room, and I open one of the windows before I kneel to pick up the glass from the broken bottle. I open his bedside drawer to place the pieces in and see a letter resting underneath a watch box. I study the thick envelope and pull it from beneath the box. The note atop of it is addressed to me.

Cecelia,

I’m everything your eyes accused me of being. You were better off.

Forgive me,

Roman

I pull it out and open it. In seconds I recognize the writing. It’s from my mother.

Roman,

I’m sorry I bombarded you the way I did. I’ve humiliated myself in a way I’ll never be able to forget. Please forgive me.

I came back after all these years to apologize. To thank you for all you sacrificed for me while carrying hopes of the girl you banished from your life.

You still haven’t married. And that gave me hope. I always secretly wondered if my lingering feelings were returned. I hope you’ll forgive me for reaching out to find out.

But I can see it now. I need to give up.

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