He’d want me to be free…because expecting a teenage girl to carry the weight of a secret relationship with a married, older man isn’t fair. What it takes out of me isn’t fair. “I know you do, Leo, but—” “I need you,” he pleads, like it’s physically breaking his heart. “Aspen, don’t leave me.” It’s always about Leo. What he wants. What he needs. It’s never about me. Nothing is ever about me. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, because I truly don’t want to hurt him. I just want it to be over. “But I need to do what’s best for me.” He starts to protest again, but I hang up the phone.
