full of conviction. "I have to get out of

note of concern in her voice. "It could have serious

d made up. "But I don't see any other way ou

on't help the situation at ha

se I cannot and will not give up on my rel

re are other ways to handle this situation, ways that don't involve running away or giving up on the people

hope. Maybe she was right. Maybe there was another way out o

t that they were beautiful, that they had to be," I said, more to myself than to Kathryn. "It

ntly. "But I also know that sometimes, life doesn't always work out the

o do, but I can tell you that no matter what you decide, it's okay to feel what you're feeling.

myself permission to feel whatever I was feeling, without judgment or shame. It was

smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Y

ce. "And you know I'm always here for you, no matter what. I know you're feeling overwhelm

ath," I said, my voice full of emotion. "I'm just feeling so conflicted right now

to know that whatever choice you make, you don't have to feel guilty about it. You're allowed to make the decision that's right for you, even if

since this whole situation had started, I felt like I could breathe. I took a deep breath, letting

ome." She sai

light up when they talked about it, like it was the happiest day of their lives. There was a kind of glow in their eyes that made their smiles more

ing day, the love and happiness radiating from them. "It was like they were living in a fairytale," I continued, a small smile f

moment of nostalgia had given me a sense of peace. I felt like my parents' love was with me,

. "I imagined what it would be like when the love of my life, Timothy, will propose to me. I imagined it would be simple

ittersweetness at that moment, I felt a sense of gratitude for the love I had experienced, even if it hadn't worked out the way I'd hoped. "I know it's a

ot silly at all," she said, her voice full of understanding. "I think it's beau

t and warm," I said, my voice trembling. "I imagined him placing the ring on my finger, and the feeling of being

fulfilled dreams, the ache of something that might never be. But even as the tears fell, I felt a st

keep going, even when things are tough. They remind us that there's still

re so strong, Althea," she said, her voice full of admiration. "I know it's hard right now, but I be

ould have to give up my dreams, that my father would be in danger, that I would have to end my relationship wi

but at the same time, I knew I had to face what was in front of me. And somehow, just having Kathryn's v

also know that you're stronger than you think. You've faced difficult thi

ating deep within me. "Thank you," I

led with compassion and concern. "Please, tell me how I can be the

g that I needed to ask for h

ing. "I can't bring myself to do it. I don't think I could hand

be the one to tell him?" she

above a whisper. "Please, I can't do it. I can't tell him. But I know I need to, and

uld feel her deliberati

e we care about when we've made a decision that we know will hurt them. But I also think that it's important to be

ht on my shoulders. She was right - I knew that this was the right thi

e. "I need you to tell him for me, and I need y

here for both of you. No matter what happens,

u're going to marry Ada

caught in my throat. "I...I have to," I said, my words bare