Dash

by Shantel Tessier

“I choose you, Tabatha. You’re better than any dream I have ever had. Because you are real. You’re right here in front of me.”

“With all due respect, sir. The only thing you know about me is what your research has told you. You once told me that we are alike. And that we both take risks. I’m willing to risk racing for you, for her. That’s what we were planning to tell you tonight. If you give me an ultimatum, I will pick her. ‘Cause to me, she’s worth more than some plastic and a track.”

‘promise’ is just a word spoken to prevent the inevitable that no one wants to see coming. I promise I love you. I promise you’re my everything. I promise not to hurt you. Do you see a pattern? Promise makes you think that you have a chance. A candy-coated word to sweeten the pot.

Growing up, my father always told me that we have choices in life that will make you weak or make you stronger.

“I fell in love with him because of the way he made me feel. Not my feelings toward him, but my feelings toward myself. I lit up when he walked into a room. I had a smile on my face that wouldn’t go away. My skin would tingle whenever he would look at me.”

“I loved myself first. I fell in love with the person who I was when he was around. And in loving myself, I fell in love with him.”

“Give love a chance. It doesn’t matter if your heart breaks a hundred times. You’ll eventually open your heart to that one person who makes all that pain go away. It’ll be that one love that’s worth it.”