family from my phone and I made sure I did that on various applications so that I could have a peace of mind. I didn’t want to be swayed; didn’t want to be torn, didn’t want the wounds that were slowly healing to be burst wide open again.

I thought I was making myself resilient; instead, I was leaving myself wide open for more pain and suffering.

I would spend time looking at our photographs and wondering where our love had gone? How could it have ended like this?

On the eve of my birthday, I received a withheld number and was hesitant in answering at first because I knew who it was instinctively without even answering the phone. My stomach turned into a chewing spasm, but I decided to be strong and answer the call. He started singing to me