I was prone to giving in too easily, and forgiving people for things that I should never forgive them for, because that's just the kind of person I am.
And I hated it with a passion.
I was the kind of person who couldn't say no to even the most extreme things.
Let me explain.
In seventh grade, a completely disgusting slob who I had just met asked me out, and I said yes, and I really meant no.
In fourth grade, a girl asked me to jump off the roof of my house, and I said yes, and I really meant no.
In eighth grade, someone asked if I could do a duet with them in front of an audience, and I said yes, and I really meant no.
In twelfth grade, a boy named Tyler asked if I still loved him, and I said yes, but I really didn't know how I felt.
Do you see the recurring theme here? I never really mean what I say, and no one thinks twice about it. The only person who seemed to notice was Tyler. I couldn't figure out how he knew, but he knew I was lying, and I couldn't deny that.
"I know it's going to be hard to trust me again, but," he took in a deep breath. "I don't know. I just, I, I know I really hurt you, and I hated every second that I spent waiting for a call, or a text, or something from you. Ashley, I want to spend the rest of my entire life with you. I want to marry you, and have kids, and adopt pets, and live in a big house, and have the perfect life that you deserve to have." I listened to every word he said. I believed him, and I hoped that this time, it wouldn't come crashing down on me.
"Ty?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you too, Ash."
And with that, I nuzzled my face into the shoulder of the man that I now loved, shielding the both of us from the bitter Ohio winter.
~
So this chapter and the next are filler-ish chapters, leading up to the ending at chapter twenty, and yes, there will be an epilogue.
