“It’s just… I’m trying, okay? I’m trying to fit in, and it’s hard,” she admitted, her voice cracking slightly.
“I get that,” I said, softening. “But Rachel, trying to fit in doesn’t mean stepping on other people.
Respect goes both ways.”
She sighed. “I know. I’ll work on it.”
“Good,” I said simply.
“For the kids’ sake, let’s try to move forward.”
She murmured something that sounded like agreement before hanging up.
I put down the phone, exhaling deeply. I felt like I’d finally been heard for the first time in months.
A few months later, I heard they broke up. Mark never said much, and I didn’t ask.
It wasn’t my business. But the kids were relieved, and honestly, so was I. Life felt calmer again.
Whatever the reasons, I knew one thing: we were better off with her out of the picture.
