Chapter 24 - LOVE AFTER DEREK
I dated carefully.
Too carefully.
First man, I left because he raised his voice once.
Not abusive.
Just frustrated.
Second, I rejected because he asked where I was going.
Normal question.
My nervous system answered before reason.
Then I met Daniel Brooks.
Physical therapist.
Divorced.
Kind.
Not perfect.
He got defensive.
I withdrew.
We talked.
No objects thrown.
No doors blocked.
No phone taken.
The first time we argued and he said:
“I need twenty minutes.”
Then left the room.
I panicked.
He came back in exactly twenty minutes.
“Still here.”
I cried.
“Why?”
“Because you said.”
“Yes.”
Simple.
Trust built from repeated boring behavior.
We married when I was thirty-nine.
Small ceremony.
No Moretti ballroom.
Vincent attended.
Sat in back.
May you like
Cried secretly.
I photographed him.
