My Name Is Anton

by Catherine Ryan Hyde

He had not indulged that release because of a deep fear that, having allowed the tears to start, he would never find the end of them, or would find they had no end at all.

“Why do people stay in relationships with a person who’s terrible for them?

too many people can’t believe they deserve someone wonderful.”

So I loved him enough to stand out of his way. I let him make a decision to go forward to a future that did not include me. Because I loved him that much.”

looking directly at a painful truth hurts less than being stalked by it. At least, in the long run.