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I grabbedI didn’t want this I swear I didn’t want this, but what other choice did I have? I was doing this for him After all these years, it wasto catchone foot in front of the other and walking into that building

For the next hour, I blanked out

It felt as if I was having an out of body experience

I was there but I wasn’t

Cognitive dissonance saved ined my defensive instincts would protect me from him I came to when I heard hi that lued to the document in front of him the whole time

His signature was now below mine

Bright

Bold

Standing at attention

It’s over Your e is over

At the end of our love story, all Christian said to me was…

“I hope you’re fucking happy You got what you wanted”

With that, he turned and left me there

Alone

Shattered

Once again, the broken girl he couldn’t save from herself

Chapter 16

Christian

Then

“Congratulations! We’re so proud of you guys! Just one more picture!” Mom celebrated, much to my annoyance, but I played nice for her

We had just graduated froh school, so it was the least I could do

“Honey,” Dad reasoned “You have like three hundred pictures already”

Julian and I nodded in agreement

“I know, but our babies are growing up”

“Oh, honey…” Dad pulled her into a tight hug

Kinley bealy I knew she ad around theet

“Mo Jax “If you take anyto ”

Of course, he was there with us

The worst part was, ht he eet and lonely, and she basically invited hi about

He made Kinley happy, and at the end of the day, that was all that mattered to me

“Okay, okay,” Mom surrendered “Just a few more of Christian and Kinley”

I sed her toward me

“Smile Oh, come on, Christian, smile!”

“I ariped, unable to takeso much