Everything Has Changed

Chapter Twenty: Rejected

Chapter Twenty: Rejected

I sit anxiously on my chair, watching Dr. Evans read my papers.

"Honey, I don't see how you don't see it." she says.

"Please don't tell me I love him." I whisper.

She reaches across the space across from us to grasp my hands.

"Sweetie, you said in the con column that he could turn into your Mom after loving you for a while, and then you said in the pro that he would never hurt you or your future children, and I know you and I both know that's the truth. On top of that, he's already loved you for seven years, and he still treats you like you're his world."

His face of pure rejection when I left him in the parking lot flashes through my mind and I feel like a piece of glass is piercing my heart.

It's not just a pang of pain, it feels like I'm being suffocated.

"You are beautiful. You are strong, and Danny has been there for everything. Why don't you go talk to him? See how you feel then."

"But I don't love him." I whisper weakly.

"Oh hush." She squeezes my hands gently. "Stop fighting it, sweetheart. Yes you do."

"H-how did you know when you were in love with your husband?" I sniffle.

She smiles.

"When he was the first thing I thought of when I woke up and the last thing when I went to sleep."

I look down.

"But..."

"Gracelyn, there's this quote I love. Do you want to hear it?"

I nod.

"Now I don't know who said it, but I think this could help you see things from Danny's perspective." She picks up her phone and I wait. "Sometimes, you have to be strong for yourself. You have to know that you're a good person and a good friend. What's meant to be will end up good and what's not – won't. Love is worth fighting for, but sometimes you can't be the only one fighting. At times, people need to fight for you. If they don't, you just have to move on and realize what you gave them was more than they were willing to give you. Hopefully, people realize great things when they come around and don't lose something real. Always fight, until you can't anymore and then be fought for."

I put my hand over my heart.

He fought for me. He fought with me until I wouldn't let him anymore, and then he stopped.

Now he's moving on.

"That's all for today honey." She says. "Just talk to Danny. I'm not telling you to get your on your knees and propose, but talk to him."

"You want me to talk to him?" I ask.

"Yes." She says. "And if you get nervous, remember it's Danny, and he wouldn't hurt you on purpose."

I nod and head for the door.

"And Gracelyn?" She calls.

"Yes?"

"A ship is only safe in the harbor." She says. "But that's not what they're made for."

I nod slowly and walk out.

*****

I sit on my bed in my pajamas. They're just a black sweatshirt and a pair of grey sweatpants. I don't care how I look.

I'm reading my list again and decide to hit play on Jealous by Labrinth.

And the further I get into the song, the more relatable it gets.