117. Epilogue
Ryan
“I, Candace Allen, take you, Derian Clark, as my husband…” my daughter's voice sounds shaky, but she takes a moment and continues…
“Derian… For a long time, I was afraid.
Afraid of not being enough, of not being worthy of real love.
I hid behind doubt, perfectionism, and self-abandonment disguised as strength.
But life taught me—sometimes gently, sometimes painfully—that before loving someone else… I had to learn to love myself.
Today I embrace myself with all my scars, my mistakes, my broken beginnings…
And from that love for myself, pure and brave, today I can look you in the eyes and tell you that I am no longer afraid.
I am no longer afraid to receive your love or to give you mine.
Because I no longer need to run, nor protect myself.
Today I choose you fr
