Page 32 of Isolation

One day Milo went too far, and it pushed me over the edge. I couldn't ignore what was happening anymore. I left for Paris the very next day.

Reid was so angry at me for leaving that he stopped talking to me. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have Reid’s friendship to rely on.

After I left for Paris, Milo flew out to bring me back. He begged me, said he couldn't live without me. He claimed that he snapped, but I didn’t want to hear any of it.

Finally, Milo decided to do "right" by me. He asked me to come with him to file a report to turn himself in.

Milo was always a willing participant to restitution. He was adamant that we belong together, and anything different is simply unnatural. His actions never felt fully wrong to him.

However, ifIfelt differently, then he deserves to rot in jail.

He refused to believe that I’d never do that to him, even if I felt wronged.

I. Don’t. Want. Revenge.

That’s not me.

I couldn’t take revenge on Milo, nor could I forgive him. In his eyes, those were the only two acceptable options.

Forgive him and be with him, or punish him and send him to jail.

I chose neither and created a third option for myself.

I promised Milo that I would try to forgive him if he stayed away. I meant it. I wanted us to eventually be a family again.

However, Milo wanted the promise of reconciliation along with my forgiveness. He wouldn't leave until I agreed, which I grudgingly did.

Hope.Hope was the only thing I could give him to ensure that he would stay away from me.

Yes. It was idiotic to encourage a man who holds on to very little. But I was seventeen. I was petrified of my guardian, who had legal rights over me and could manipulate my mother into forcing me to go back.

I had no one else to turn to, nor could I enforce a restraining order against him.

What else would have kept a man like that at bay?

So, I gave him hope, never thinking that four years down the line his feelings would still be the same.

Myyears in Paris were… difficult, but I never hated Milo. I hate the actions he chose, but I don’t hate theperson currently in front of me who is working on finding a different path so we can coexist.

This, I understand.

It’s logical.

In the last week,we stayed focused on our Tessa related efforts.Things were somewhat calm between usin the beginning.

Of course, Milo’s attention quickly shifted. But after theincident,as he keeps calling it, hehasn’t touched meor forced choices down my throat.

So, I have put my differences aside for the family’s sake. It’s almost as if we have been keeping things “professional” during a bad situation.

“I don’t know if hate is the right word,” I slowly unravel my thoughts. “I’d say that I am angry at you and I feel resentful towards you.”

“Resentful?” Milo asks curiously.

Another significant change I have noticed is Milo's ability to intimidate our family members.

The part that hasnotchanged is that everyone in the family still respects Milo, despite feeling intimidated by him.

They adore him.