romantically interested in me.
Jake was lowering his eyes.
Yes.
This is manipulation.
I know.
Then I understood how absurd the whole situation was.
I didn’t “fall in love” with Jake because there was a great love story between us.
I fell in love with the way it made me feel seen after eight years of loneliness.
And he had used that closeness to enter the house and look for answers.
Maybe he didn’t want my money.
But he still was lying to me.
“Get away,” I said.
Margaret …
Now.
Jake was taking his backpack.
At the door it stopped.
I am so sorry.
And me.
For what?
“Because of all the people in this room, you’re the only one I didn’t expect to owe me the truth.
He’s gone.
In the following days I did not try to “strengthen” my memory.
