Page 93 of A Solid Guide to Surviving a Situationship

He let out a small, shaky breath, shaking his head.

“I just… I don’t think I can ever change.”

I stared at him, but he couldn’t meet my eyes.

He swallowed hard, forcing himself to continue.

“It’s not because I haven’t met the right person. It’s not because I don’t know better.” He laughed quietly, but there was nothing funny about it. “I do.”

His eyes met mine this time.

“I just don’t think I want to change.”

The words landed heavier than anything else he could’ve said.

No excuses.

No deflection.

Just the truth.

“But you,” he continued, softer now, “you’re everything, James.”

I felt my throat tighten.

“James, you’re—” He shook his head like he couldn’t even find the right order of words. “You’re beautiful. You’re talented. You’re smart. You’re opinionated as hell. You’re loving. You’re⁠—”

He exhaled, eyes glassy.

“You’re the bravest person I’ve ever known.”

That did it.

My vision blurred from the tears that welled in my eyes. But still, I tried stopping it from falling, biting my lip to make sure I won’t appear weak.

“I mean that,” he added quickly, stepping a little closer but not touching me. “You’re brave for welcoming people into your life, not knowing what they are—but you still do. And you’re brave for walking away from the people that hurt you.”

My chest ached.

“You are so brave that even when you love… you know when to let go.”

I looked away, because looking at him one heartbeat longer, tears might spill.

Silence filled the space between us.

Thick. Heavy.

“I’m not saying this so you’ll stay,” he added. “I know you won’t. You shouldn’t.”

Another breath.

“I just—” He paused, swallowing. “I don’t want you to leave here thinking you weren’t enough.”

I turned to him again.

“I need you to know that it’s never because of you,” he said, voice unsteady but clear. “It was never because of you. It’s me—it’s people like me who constantly, unashamedly hurt you.”

The words of a thief should be taken with a grain of salt—but for the first time, I believed him.