I left through the restaurant’s side entrance and walked into the Austin afternoon. I did not wait to see what happened around Daniel’s table. For five years, I had waited for him to notice me, appreciate my work, and treat me like an equal. I was finished waiting. At home, I made coffee and called my closest friend, Dani. She answered immediately and said, “Talk to me.” I explained everything, including the letter, the cancelled wedding, and the key. She listened without interrupting. When I finished, she simply said, “I’m glad.” I realized I was glad, too.
Daniel called that evening, then called twice more. Eventually, he appeared at my apartment door. I opened it because I knew I could have the conversation without changing my decision. He looked uncertain, a side of him I had rarely seen. He said he did not understand what had happened. I told him the letter explained everything, and that nothing in it was inaccurate.
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