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“But you didn’t answer my question—are you happy?”
“No,” Katie said in a quiet whisper, her shoulders sagging.Back in high school, she had dreams of making it big in the city and having it all.But she had let go of Chase.Cut the ties all by herself.She had a nice nest egg and a job she’d climbed the ladder to get.She didn’t need more money.Heck, she was making more than anyone in her family ever had.In one fell swoop, Mrs.Bell had asked about the one thing she didn’t have.The one thing money couldn’t buy, no matter how high she reached or how many achievements and accolades she accumulated.The one thing she’d let go.
She’d settled for the life she had now.Convinced herself it was a full life, filling her time to the brim every day.She’d smile and go to work every morning, while the knot in her belly tightened a little bit more each day.She was good at hiding the emptiness inside.Nobody had guessed.She’d held it in, kept it to herself.
At night, she’d take off her cheerful face and stop acting.Scrub off her makeup and shower, then get in bed and hug her pillow.
She remembered when she frolicked and romped in the field with Chase.Carefree and barefoot, they’d run, jump, and dance in the tall grass, laughing and squealing.One day, he had plucked a bouquet of beautiful wildflowers, and with the earnest face and the innocence of a child, he’d asked her, “Will you be mine?”
For an answer, she’d kissed him on his soft lips.
“Katie?”Mrs.Bell asked, interrupting her thoughts.
She blinked and let out a long exhale, running her fingers through her hair.
“You okay?”
Katie bowed her head, but not before Mrs.Bell caught sight of her forlorn expression.
Mrs.Bell squeezed her shoulder.“Some things are worth holding on to.You just have to figure out what you want.”
