LEFT AT MY LOWEST, LOVED AT MY BEST

ICA'

rytale setting, nor was it a moment orchestrated by fate. It was ordinary so

e sat across from me, frustrated with his laptop. A sigh escaped him, long and weary, and I found myself looking up. Hi

I asked before I

torm of emotions swirling within them determinat

rategy?" he asked hesitantly, as if

losing my bo

ing. The moment our

and coffee shop debates soon turned into long phone calls at night, stol

ous, driven he had dreams bigger than himself, and I loved that about him. He wanted to buil

elieved

eatest strength. Or

new we wanted to spend the

sacrifices, the weight of responsibility that came with commi

Desmond had whispered to me on our wedding night, his arms

a while,

h other, and that was more than enough. We lived in a tiny apartment where the walls were

own company a small business in the finance sector. It was slow, difficult, and exhausting, but I believed in

after a long night of work. "We'll be in our dream house, sipping expensive wine,

t. That was our future

anything to m

d later learn, can

the signs were always there su

d with sm

we were chasing something bigger than ourselves. Late nights turned into early mornings. Phone ca

him. Because

hought, was a

ay whenever I voiced my feelings. "I'

I not understand? I had watched him strug

pt in. Nights when I longed for the version

ips had ups an

at's what I

e distance slowly creeping in, I n

ill felt like home. When he looked at

lly taking off. We had started talking about

ng great, and I was right there bes

s one thing

I never

pure and unwavering

our perfect life w

when I first noticed s

ming home with a tired smile and a distracte

e didn't pick it up right away. He hesitated. A flicker

casually, not expect

oo quickly. "

range feeling sett

hesitated to discuss deals, contracts, or negotiation

time, I felt like an

staring at the ceiling, a stra

ved me. I

hing was