She paused, her voice hardening. "I don't want to live for anyone else anymore. I don't want to compromise, or play along, or walk on eggshells. And I don't want anyone to do that for me, because I don't have the energy to carry the weight of their emotions."
"Claire Chapman, do you understand?"
Once Maisie Joyce's voice faded, the room fell silent.
A long, long silence followed…
That night, Claire Chapman didn't stay at Maisie Joyce's place.
Because he couldn't lie to her and say he didn't understand.
He understood all too well. That was how he knew Maisie Joyce was serious—she truly didn't want to deal with anything related to emotions ever again.
When two people are together, no matter how in sync they are, they're still not a single person.
Both partners always have to make concessions and compromises for each other.
If there's love between them, then none of that is a big deal.
