Too Late

by Colleen Hoover

I cried because I realized that no matter who he’s become, a part of me still has empathy for him… because I don’t know how not to.

Damn him for being everything I wish Asa was, and everything I wish I could have.

I don’t even know why I’m crying. Maybe it’s because, until this moment, I had no idea what it felt like to be valued. What it felt like to be respected. Until this moment, I had no idea what it felt like to be cared for.

“For what it’s worth, you look really beautiful today. I kind of can’t catch my breath.” He keeps walking, despite the fact that his words have frozen my feet to the floor. That’s all those were. Words. A few simple words strung together, but they held just enough power to physically stop me in my tracks.

But just because a lot of his behavior can probably be excused by whatever awful people were around him as a child, doesn’t mean I’m required to subject myself to a life of unhappiness simply because he loves me.

“Love finds you in the forgiveness at the tail end of a fight. Love finds you in the empathy you feel for someone else. Love finds you in the embrace that follows a tragedy. Love finds you in the celebration after the conquering of an illness. Love finds you in the devastation after the surrender to an illness.”

“How come it seems every time we take a step forward, we’re forced to take ten steps back?” she asks. I push a strand of hair off her forehead. “We’ll just have to start taking bigger steps forward.”

The only concern he had was for me. And to be someone’s main concern feels a hell of a lot like being loved.

I don’t know what I’d do if I ever found out she didn’t actually love me. She’s the only one who does.

:((((

Sometimes I think I could treat you better than I do.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “Then why don’t you?” His eyes narrow with a slight tilt of his head, like he’s actually contemplating my question. “I don’t know how.”

Because people never really think about how, in order to beat the odds, a lot of unfortunate deaths have to occur for that particular survival to be considered “out of the norm.”

Love shouldn’t feel like added weight. It should make you feel as light as air.

I guess that’s the difference between being loved the right way and the wrong way. You either feel tethered to an anchor… or you feel like you’re flying.

The world doesn’t owe us a thing. We take what we’re given and we make the most of it.

“Every child deserves love, Asa. I’m sorry you were never loved. For that, I forgive you. We both do.”