“I just… I guess I didn’t realize how strong you were,” I admitted, feeling surprisingly nervous. “You put up with all this, and you never once complained. You’ve done more than I would’ve in your position.”
Mary smiled, a little softer than I’d ever seen.
“I’m not doing it for them,” she replied. “I’m doing it for me.”
And in that moment, I realized my feelings had shifted. What started as a plan to shock my parents had become something else entirely.
I respected and admired her, and, yes, I wanted to be with her for real. “Mary,” I said slowly, “maybe it’s time we told them the truth.”
She nodded, understanding exactly what I meant. We weren’t just playing a game anymore.
The next day, we asked our parents to sit down with us. As we prepared to reveal everything, I felt a strange calm. I wasn’t worried about what they’d say.
I just knew that, for once, I was ready to do things honestly and with Mary by my side.
