Before love Lies
Jasmine Ito – POV
The truth was simple.
And that was what made it hurt the most.
John was the only man I had ever truly loved.
Not admired.
Not respected.
Not chosen out of duty.
Loved.
My fingers trembled as I wiped at the tears slipping down my face, but they wouldn’t stop. They came faster now, warmer, heavier—each one carrying a memory I couldn’t outrun.
That night.
It replayed in fragments.
The way his lips found mine—not hesitant, not rushed… just certain. Like he had been waiting for that moment longer than either of us wanted to admit.