He Chose Her Over Me So I Chose Myself Chapter 43
There was no Mercer name beneath it, and no story about luck.
Only my signature.
On the first day of class, Eli’s brother handed out materials. He placed blue, red, and gold glass into separate little boxes and let each child choose for themselves.
One girl held up two pieces of glass and asked uncertainly, “Can I keep both?”
“Yes,” I said.
“I don’t have to give the one I like away to someone else?”
I crouched down so we were at eye level.
“No, you don’t.”
She smiled at once and closed her fingers tightly around both pieces.
Sunlight streamed in from the direction of the stained-glass library window, laying a thin rainbow across the floor of the new classroom.
After class, Eli took a very simple ring out of his pocket.
He didn’t kneel, and he didn’t stage a public surprise that demanded an immediate answer.
He just set the ring box on the workbench.
“June, I want to build a life with you.”
He looked at me, his tone earnest.
“You can answer today, or later. Whatever the answer is, it’s yours to decide.”
I didn’t reach for the ring at once.
“If we get married, I’m keeping my own accounts.”
“Of course.”
“And the studio stays mine.”
“It already is.”
“I’m never giving up design for anyone.”
Eli smiled.
“That’s the most important one.”
I smiled too, picked up the ring, and slid it onto my own finger.
Not because it was finally my turn.
And not because someone had chosen a better life for me.
This time, the keys, the name, and the future were all in my hands.
I chose to love him.
And I will always choose myself first.
The End