When I got home, I felt utterly drained. The day had been exhausting, and my emotions were a mess. I didn't want to think about Jackie anymore or the whirlwind of emotions that came with facing him. I knew I had to stay strong for myself and Dennis. I couldn't afford to let anyone or anything disrupt our lives.
I headed straight to the bathroom, washed my face, and stared at my reflection in the mirror. I saw a woman who was trying so hard to be strong, but also one who was deeply hurt. I reminded myself that I needed to stay firm, to keep things under control, and not let anyone, especially Jackie, throw my life into chaos again.
As I stood there, memories of Jackie flooded my mindhow we met, the way he had helped me, the small, sweet moments we shared. For a brief time, I had fel
