Page 75 of Nothing But the Truth

She’d become complacent in so many aspects of her life—her appearance, her relationship, her job—following routine and expectation because that was easier than admitting she was unhappy. She’d tortured her body, settled for a partner she shared no real connection with, tolerated mistreatment at work, and for what? Because confronting her unhappiness meant going against the grain, maybe being alone, and standing up for herself?

To hell with that.

“I’m not fine!” she declared, and Oliver jumped. The look on her face told him not to even consider telling her to calm down. “Oliver, I get it now. All day long—all life long—I’ve been telling myself everything is fine when it’s not. I’m so conditioned as a woman—brainwashed!—to keep quiet about it, to pretend that everything is okay and not make a scene, that I went along with it. I always go along with it, but not today! That’s what this is about!”

And suddenly, it all made perfect sense.

“I wished for a perfect day, and this is a perfect day! This is the day I needed!” She gasped as the brunt of the truth hit her.

And then she laughed hysterically.

“My wish did come true.”

Oliver stared at her with equal parts skepticism and belief. It was an odd look, but Lucy understood it since she was feeling the same way.

“Well, I don’t know what genie was on the receiving end of that wish, but they’ve got a warped sense of humor.”

Lucy laughed because it was all absurd but made so much sense at the same time.

Her perfect day.

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