Page 115 of One Night

"No. You'll just tell me it's not true, but I know it is. It at least contributed to it."

"What are you talking about?"

I don't respond.

"Amber, you know I won't give up until you tell me."

I sigh. "Gymnastics."

"What about it?"

"You know how much time it took. When we were younger our parents devoted their lives to gymnastics. They had no time for each other."

"That's not what led to your parents' divorce."

I huff. "See? I told you you wouldn't believe me."

"I'm just saying, their problems started a long time ago."

"Their problems started when I got really good at gymnastics and began training more. They were never home, never with each other, because one of them was always taking me to practice."

"My parents did the same thing and their marriage is fine."

"Because they found a way to get through it. My parents didn't."

"Wait." She scoots closer to me. "Is that the real reason you quit gymnastics? Because you thought it was making your parents fight?"

Instead of answering, I take a deep breath, looking down.

"You told me it was because you wanted to do other things. Be more involved in high school."

"All that was true." I look up at her. "But I also thought it would help make the fighting stop."

"But it didn't."

"No."

"So do you regret quitting?"

"Not really. I mean, I guess sometimes I do, but at the time, I really thought I was helping my family, and I think I did. When I quit gymnastics, my parents were able to spend more time with my sisters, which they needed, especially Britt. She spent most of her childhood being dragged to practice and meets, which wasn't fair to her. Anyway, it doesn't matter. It obviously didn't help enough for them to stay together."

"Did your parents explain to you guys why they were breaking up?"

"They couldn't because Britt ran off and then my mom went to talk to her. But when I was talking to my dad, he said he and my mom both changed and were no longer compatible. He acted like it wasn't a big deal but it IS a big deal. How can I ever have faith in love when I'm told it won't last? When I'm told love isn't enough? That it isn't enough to keep people together?"

"That's only true sometimes, not always. Lots of people stay together."

"And a lot of people divorce. I don't want to be one of those people, Kira."

"Meaning what? You're never going to fall in love?"

I don't want to admit to her that I feel like I'm already there. That I'm already falling in love with Dylan.

"Why bother falling in love when you know it's going to end?"

"Because being in love is part of being human. Amber, don't let this change how you feel about love and relationships. You've always believed in true love and soulmates and love stories. Don't give up on all that because of what happened to your parents."

"Why not? That stuff only exists in the movies. It's not real life."

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