Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them back. “Then show it by letting me go. Let me build something better, something new. For both of us.”

The silence that followed was deafening. Tara, unable to hold my gaze, finally stepped aside. Luke took my hand, and together, we walked toward the door, hearts heavy but resolute.

As we stepped into the night, the cool air was a balm to my frayed nerves. Luke wrapped an arm around my shoulders, offering comfort.