Page 2 of Chosen By Love

“Don’t think I don’t care for you, Becca. I do. I just need some space. When I get my head on straight, maybe we could—”

I straightened my spine and stared him in the eyes.

“No! Here’s how this scenario is going to go,” I spoke in a choked, tearful voice. “If you allow me to walk out that door, we will be finished with one another forever. Is that what you want?”

His shoulders raised in a shrug.

More tears burst forth and spilled down my face. Hurt beyond anything I’ve ever felt before tore through my heart. I felt the muscles of my chin quiver, and I bit back words that I could never take back. Instead of spilling angry words from my mouth, I decided that they would only be a waste of my energy. This is what Shawn and my years together amounted to... getting dumped when I needed him the most. Well, good riddance! I didn’t need him, but my head warred with my heart because my heart felt I did.

“Have a good life, Shawn,” I gritted out before turning and running towards the door. I ripped it open and didn’t stop, even as he called me to come back.

* * *

Mom held me in her arms for hours as she listened to me, unburden my heart after I left Shawn that day.

“Honey, you don’t need a man who can’t stick by you through good times as well as the not so good times. Trials through life are what separate the men from the boys. I want you to remember that,” she rubbed soothing circles against my back as I laid my head against her bosom.

I was glad my dad wasn’t around because he would have wanted to pummel the man that hurt me. To my dad, I was always his little girl, even at the age of twenty-four.

My parents, Joe and Faye Woods, were the best parents a daughter could ask for.

“Honey, allow yourself to grieve. You are allowed to for the years you and Shawn had together. But after you have grieved a while, let it go. Don’t close your heart off to meeting your soulmate in the future. One day when you least expect it, he will be standing there, demanding that you open up your heart and let him in.”

“I’m not falling in love again. It hurts too much. I’m just going to focus on getting through this surgery, healing, and living my life.”

“Your father and I will be right by your side all the way. Whatever you need, we will be here for you. Oh, and don’t let me forget about your best friend, Tracee.”

“Thanks, mom. I love you.”

“I love you too, honey,” she said and continued to embrace me in her loving arms.

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