Every Man I Liked Was You

les and laughter echoed from nearby buildings and from rebellious couples still picnickin

nded distant yet oddly clear. It was either a cry of agon

shrill, it appeared to

had completed it glorious years. The area around the bench was quiete

o made th

irrel had scurried off, the girl stood up. Her long, curly black hair shimmered und

oed in her head: "I can do whatever I want. I can be wh

gned door creaked open as she turned the knob. She st

orking. Her mother's voice echoed in her mind, repeating the mantras of strength and independence. But none of it seemed to matter anymore

pent her whole life striving toward the image of a "normal, successful person" that her mother had

, she was the one who walked away. She didn't value lov

s at least in that world, if not participating in it. Even her mother-her biggest role model-once t

ly rooted in her that sh

o break up with her, knowing he had deeper feelings for

, "then why did my parents-who were so in love-en

rever, like her parents once had, or like the stories she grew

ried constantly. And Edna began t

owed only what seemed

ed reality was falling apart-and it di

kind that could either drown thou

her head-the boy she

used to receive love. Stop being so hard on yourself,"

red, smiling bitterly while sw

inside. But nothing good had come of it. Her proud mother was already tired of what she called he

her eyes glistening as she stared at her only audience: a man who looked like he was in his twenties. He was

htly with her palm, hoping

," she said defiantly,

me?" she muttered quietly, s

Edna now?" the ma

eyes, picked up her steps, and

me," he offered, ca

o herself about the writing jo

for... or is it happiness?

. She was sure it wasn't love-b

to the man

confused," he

nd up finding

m most likely to end up chuggin

ughed

s not meant for you, it's not meant for you. That is what y

ence as she opened the

er-even though he knew she was q