Chapter Thirteen

Four long years had passed since I left Dane, uncertain if he would reappear or respect my need for space. Though I felt a longing to return to him and ask for his forgiveness, I feared it was too late. It was my fault for walking away initially, but I hadn’t even lived my life yet. Kara needed me then, but now, I was the one living alone in Portland, despite thinking that was the life I wanted so badly.

He probably followed my advice and fell in love with Kendra. I didn’t blame either of them. After all, who could resist Dane?

At the age of twenty-three, I settled in Portland and established a life here. The relocation was difficult for me, particularly because the farther away I was from Dane, the more intense my pains became. Some days, I would remain on the couch, curled up in a ball, weeping due to the agony. I contemplated whether Dane could sense my pain or if it was his own that I was sensing.

After Kara graduated, she got married to a guy from college and they bought a home i