Chapter 9 - AVERY CHOOSES A SIDEAvery sat alone in her bedroom that night.
Her wedding dress hung in the closet.
She stared at it for nearly an hour.
Two days ago, she had believed she was beginning her forever.
Now the dress looked like evidence from another woman's life.
She took it from the closet.
Folded it.
Placed it inside a box.
Then she walked downstairs.
Clifford was sitting on the porch.
"Dad?"
He turned.
"I want an annulment."
Clifford nodded.
"You don't have to explain."
"I do."
She sat beside him.
"I chose him because I thought he loved me."
Clifford looked toward the pasture.
"And now?"
"Now I know what love isn't."
She wiped her eyes.
"Love doesn't ask you to betray your family."
Clifford smiled sadly.
"No."
"It doesn't ask you to become smaller."
"No."
"And it doesn't make you afraid."
Clifford looked at her.
"You've learned something."
May you like
Avery nodded.
"I learned that being kind doesn't mean being blind."
Related Stories
