“It's your journey. You gotta do your work and I gotta do mine.'
I taste salt from my tears. 'Your need scares me. I'm afraid I'll focus on your needs over mine.'
I clear my throat. Breathe in and out. Steady myself. 'I love you... and I love myself. I want us to be healthy and strong. On our own. So that no matter what happens, whether we meet again or not...'
I look him in the eye. "Love means wanting you to have a good life, even if I'm not in it. And your love for me? It should be that strong, so you want that for me, too'.”