That pool, once the centerpiece of my dream wedding, became something else entirely. It marked the boundary between who I was and who I refuse to be ever again. It’s funny, in a way—how a single splash can expose what years of dating had tried to hide.
I used to think love was about grand gestures and fairy tale endings. Now I know it’s about respect—the kind that doesn’t disappear when you’re cold, dripping, and embarrassed in front of 80 guests. It’s the kind that stays, offers a jacket, and says, “You deserve better.”
That was the last day I fell for someone who didn’t take me seriously.
And the first day I stood tall—even soaked, even heartbroken—and walked away from the shallow end for good.