Falling in Love for Real
The months that followed were surprisingly peaceful.
Russell cared about the little things.
He remembered that I liked peppermint tea.
He left the curtains slightly open because I couldn’t sleep in complete darkness.
He noticed when I was worried before I said a word.
One morning, I pushed away my breakfast without eating.
Instead of criticizing me, he simply smiled.
“You don’t have to earn your coffee,” he said.
I laughed, but tears nearly followed.
Because all my life, I had believed I needed to earn every kindness.
Every meal.
Every opportunity.
Every bit of affection.
Russell was the first person who made me feel worthy simply because I existed.
Slowly, my practical decision became something deeper.
Something real.
I stopped staying because I needed security.
I stayed because I loved him.
