I look out my window and I see him. Sitting at the edge of my dock again. Waiting. He’s always waiting. Patiently for me to come to him. To make a decision. To be the woman he needs. But I don’t know if I can. Not yet anyway. This small town is all we’ve both ever known and while he loves it, I feel constrained by it. I chafe at the familiarity and the constant expectation from me to live down to my family’s reputation. The only person who has ever believed in me is him but that’s not enough anymore. I need to leave this place so I can finally start believing in myself. I have to leave here to find me. He doesn’t understand that right now. Maybe one day he will but until then, I close my window and turn off the light.