John
Cassie's tearful voice cut through the tension in the car as she asked me why I had left her parents' house. I sighed heavily, my grip on the steering wheel tightening. I hadn't expected our conversation to take this turn so soon, and her tearful eyes bore into my soul.
"I just didn't want to argue with your parents," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, though my emotions were anything but. Cassie deserved honesty, even if the truth was difficult.
But her next question hit me like a ton of bricks. "Why aren't you ready to marry me, John?" she implored. It was a question I'd been grappling with, and one that left me torn.
I hesitated before finally admitting, "I need time and space, Cassie. I need to be sure, and I need you to be sure too. Maybe we should take a break, just
