Amelia sat curled up on the couch, her hands wrapped tightly around a mug of tea. The twins were playing in their room, their laughter faint but comforting. Across from her, Sammie sat cross-legged, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. Her sharp eyes searched Amelia’s face as she spoke.
“I don’t know why it still affects me this much,” Amelia said, her voice low and strained. “Every time I see Ryan with Brenda, acting like they’re this perfect family, it’s like a punch in the gut. And then I hate myself for even caring.”
“You don’t need to hate yourself for being human,” Sammie replied gently. “You loved him once, and he’s the father of your kids. Of course, it’s going to sting.”
Amelia let out a shaky breath, setting her mug down on the table. “Hale’s been wonderful, though. He’s everything I should want—stable, kind, patient. But sometimes… it feels like I’m forcing myself to be happy with him.”
Sammie arched a brow. “Why do you think that is?”
“I don’t know,” Amelia admitted, her voice cracking. “Maybe I’m broken. Maybe I’ve built up this wall around me, and no one can really get through it. Hale deserves better than someone who keeps looking over her shoulder at the past.”
Sammie straightened, her tone firm. “You’re not broken, Amelia. You’re just scared—scared of letting yourself feel again because of how much it hurt before. But you’ve got to ask yourself: Are you holding onto Hale because you care for him, or because he feels safe?”
Amelia’s fingers tightened around the fabric of her leggings. “I don’t know anymore. I thought I could just move forward, but seeing Ryan with Brenda… it’s like this wound I thought was healing just keeps getting ripped open.”
Sammie leaned closer, her voice softening. “You don’t have to decide everything right now. But maybe it’s time to let yourself breathe, focus on you and the kids for a while.”
Amelia nodded, a flicker of clarity breaking through the fog. “Maybe you’re right. I’ve been trying so hard to move forward, but maybe I need to stop running and just… figure out what I really want.”
Sammie smiled warmly. “Whatever you decide, I’ll be here. And Hale will understand if he’s the right one. The question is: Do you want him to be?”