Let the bridge keep burning

I’ve spent too long standing in the wreckage of something I thought was real.

Truth is, it wasn’t real. Not the way I lived it.

She kept me close just long enough to feel wanted, while lining up her safety net behind the scenes.

Feeding me half-truths.

Telling me one thing while planning another.

And when the time came to choose honesty, she chose the path of least resistance.

She picked the easy route.

She picked the fallback.

She picked a man she cheated on, who probably still doesn’t realize he was second choice. If he was ever a choice at all.

Let him have her.

Let him think he won something.

She showed me her true colours. And I’m glad she did, because now I’ll never be fooled by that act again.

She can twist the story all she wants.

Say whatever she needs to keep her new peace looking polished.

But deep down, she knows what she did.

And deep down, he knows she’s capable of it again.

I was all in. Real. Loyal. Sharp.

And for that, I was watched, lied to, and disrespected.

But now? Now I’m done pretending.

I flipped the power the second I stopped caring.

I walked away while the fire was still burning. And I haven’t looked back.

And then there’s Brooke.

While the past was giving me games, Brooke gave me peace.

While someone else was feeding lies, Brooke gave me genuine love. No conditions. No agenda.

She’s selfless. Solid. Grounded.

She doesn’t just care, she shows it, over and over.

She’s everything Nicole isn’t.

And now that I’ve seen the difference, I can’t unsee it.

I’m genuinely excited to start my life with Brooke.

We’ve got a weekend booked at Crown and I can’t wait to spend that time with her. Just us. No noise. No lies. No games.

She makes me want to show up every day. She makes it easy to breathe again.

I actually showed Brooke the piece I wrote on her and she was so touched.

It’s nice to finally be appreciated. To be loved for my effort. And to feel like someone truly sees the kindness I give without expecting anything back.

And then there was yesterday.

The truth came out. The lies were exposed. I said what needed to be said.

She can deny it all she wants, but you don’t get defensive unless there’s something to hide.

And her rebound? the one she cheats on?

Out front on his own property, staring me down like that’s meant to do something.

If I’m not a threat to him anymore, why act like I am?

Why watch me?

Why hide behind fences?

If he’s got an issue with me, he knows where I am.

I’m not the one lurking behind windows pretending to be tough.

I didn’t lose anything.

I survived a lesson.

And I came out the other side with clarity, fire, and a woman who actually values me.

Let it all burn. I’m walking forward without regret.

its going to be nice writing about someone and something else. Something real. Can’t wait. No more lies, red flags, fake love and toxic attachment. The last 3 years have been the biggest waste of time.