Broken Memories, Intertwined Hearts

Meg burst through the door like a whirlwind, immediately pulling Phoebe in for a once-over. Her voice was tinged with worry. “Phoebe, honey, are you
alright? Did they take advantage of you?”
Phoebe shook her head, touched by her mother’s concern. Despite being a bit of a nag and stubborn to a fault, her mom clearly adored her. “Don’t
fret, Mom. I’m fine, really.” The guys hadn’t laid a finger on her. In fact, she’d turned the tables on them instead.
“It’s all my fault,” Meg lamented. “I should’ve been more protective. I swear, nothing like this is ever happening again.”
Phoebe guided her mother to sit down, noticing she was alone. “Mom, did you come here all by yourself in the middle of the night?”
“No, your dad just got home and came with me. He’s parking the car right now. You know, this neighborhood is lovely, and it’s so close to your
company, but finding a parking spot is always a nightmare. Your dad always struggles to find one.”
Phoebe nodded, leaning into her mom and wrapping an arm around her. “Mom, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
Meg was taken aback by her daughter’s seriousness. She gently stroked Phoebe’s hair. “What is it you want to talk to me about, sweetie?”
“I want to talk about how I’ve been feeling these past couple of years, and all these blind dates I’ve been going on.” Phoebe let out a weary sigh. She
had always smiled through each setup, never fully rebelling except for the occasional grumble, but she’d done a lot of thinking lately and didn’t want
to continue like this.

Meg’s eyes lit up. There was a smile of relief spreading across her face. She patted Phoebe’s hand gently. “You’re finally ready to talk about it. Oh,
honey, you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for this day. Have you let go of him?”
She’d always known her daughter held a torch for someone, but Phoebe never mentioned it. Meg suspected it was that college boyfriend, but since
Izzy had amnesia, the details were murky. All she knew was that the boy had vanished without a word one day.
Seeing Phoebe remain single as the years ticked by had worried her, prompting the endless blind dates. She hoped Phoebe would meet a promising
young man and step out from the shadow of her heartbreak.
“Mom, you knew?” Phoebe was stunned that her mother was aware of her secret heartache, which she thought only Izzy knew about.
Meg nodded, rolling her eyes affectionately at Phoebe and pinching her cheek. “Did you really think I was setting you up on those dates just to silence
the gossips? You are my daughter, and I’d know what’s in your heart. I can’t stand to see you unhappy. If you are not willing to move on, then I have
to nudge you forward. It’s just, after two years, you still haven’t met anyone you like, which is surprising.”

Hearing the truth for the first time, Phoebe felt a lump form in her throat. Her eyes welled up with tears. She had never discussed her heartache with
her parents, assuming they were oblivious, yet they’d seen it all along.
“Phoebe, was he really that great? You’ve been hung up on him for years,” Meg inquired gently, knowing only that he was a good student and that
their relationship had been lowkey.
Phoebe found herself choking up, unable to answer. She secretly wished he’d betrayed her openly rather than leaving in silence. Betrayal could have

been the closure she needed to let go.
The men she’d met on blind dates were often impressive, but without her heart in it, she could only see their flaws, relegating them to friend status
rather than romantic partners. Deep down, she feared committing to someone else only for her ex to return.
“He was wonderful once,” Phoebe finally admitted. Her voice was a whisper.
Meg softened. Her voice was calm and steady, which was a stark contrast to her usual bluster. “Silly girl, no matter how wonderful he was, that’s all in
the past. If he cared even a little, he wouldn’t have stayed away all these years. Time waits for no one, and neither should you. I pushed you to date
because I was worried. For all we know, he could be married and have kids by now, but you’re still waiting. Is it worth it?”
Phoebe gazed at her mother, unaccustomed to this gentle side of her. “Aren’t you going to scold me? Call me a fool?”
Meg chuckled, rapping Phoebe lightly on the forehead. “Silly girl, do you really prefer a scolding over a heart-to-heart? I’m your mother, and I hurt for
you. Why would I scold you? I understand how tough love can be.”
“I’ve been thinking, and I realize I’ve been a fool, a naive fool,” Phoebe confessed, feeling foolish for waiting on a lost cause for so long.
Meg knew her daughter well; despite her tough exterior, Phoebe internalized her pain. “You needed to come to that realization on your own. If I had
been straightforward from the start, would you listen? Sometimes, you need to learn lessons the hard way.”
Phoebe slumped onto the couch. The revelation made her feel both exhausted and strangely liberated. “Mom,” she began, with a note of
determination threading her voice. “I’ve already figured it out. I’ve wasted so many years on him, and I’m not going to do it anymore. You know what?
Izzy and her flash-married hubby are doing great. Izzy told me that she doesn’t love the guy, and that she isn’t chasing fairy-tale romance, but I’ve
seen a smile on her face like never before. Maybe the man I marry doesn’t need to be my soulmate. As long as we’re good companions, that’s
enough. Starting from today, I’m going to seriously consider the dates you set up for me. No more brushing them off.”
She leaned into her mother’s embrace, realizing it had been years since they had really sat down and connected like this.