When Losing a Man Feels Like Gaining Yourself
Most guests left soon after, but one of Ryan’s friends stayed behind. He handed me a drink and said quietly, “You deserved better.”
He was right.
That night, I didn’t get a proposal.
I didn’t get a ring.
But I got something far more valuable—clarity.
Love shouldn’t make you feel small.
Jokes aren’t harmless when they dismiss your hurt.
And choosing yourself is sometimes the bravest commitment of all.
Ryan never proposed.
But I finally said yes—to myself.
And I’ve never regretted it.
