The car drives away, taking part of me with it. Once the car is out of sight, I open my fist. Inside lies the yin and yang bracelet I gave her.

"What's this for?" she asks.

I frown. "Our anniversary, of course. Years ago, I met the best person in my life."

"Got you." She turns and hands me a neatly wrapped gift.

We both know what we need to do. We open the gifts at the same time. It's the same thing we always give each other, but that doesn't take away from the magic. Tally has given me another bracelet to wear. This time it's a little more masculine than she used to pick out.

"I love it!" she screams and throws her arms around me. "Help me put it on, please." she asks with those puppy dog eyes.

I help her tighten the bracelet around her small wrists.

"This is such an important symbol. But for now I think I will wear it until the right person comes along. A person is going to have to be worthy of getting all my love." She beams. "You know," she continues, "the yin and yang is seen as a symbol of complementary forces. That even though the two forces may seem opposite, they are actually interconnected. This will symbolize that for me there is only one person who perfectly complements me, and that I need to wait on them."

I wished at that moment that she would see in me what I saw in her.

Maybe now she does. Maybe it's at least a promise that she is considering me as her forever; the person to give all her love to. It would have been nice if I had waited, but the past can't be changed. I started changing weeks ago, and I will continue until the day she says we have no chance as a couple—which I hope never comes.

"What are you thinking so hard about, son?" Tally's dad says from beside me.

"Just the future. I have more planning to do with Jared regarding the outdoor adventure company, and I need to get going on that, so we can develop a plan and hopefully get financing to start it."

"Come to me when you have it complete, and we'll look over it together." he says before turning and going into the house.

Maybe the time will fly by.

I head over to Jared's house. I'm feeling hopeful again, and it has me looking forward to the future, for once.

"What's that smile for?" Jared asks.

"Can't a guy just have a good day?"

"Did you meet some pretty young thing?"

"In a way, I did. But you know good and well that those days are behind me."

Jared slaps me on the shoulder. "More power to you, man. I wouldn't give up cold beer and a warm body, but you do you."

"I most certainly will. Now, let's get down to trying to put these plans on paper."

Jared and I work for a few hours on our business plan before he has to leave with his parents. It reminds me that I too am lucky for the family I have.

Stopping at the convenience store, I get out to go get me a drink.

"Dan, is that you?" Someone asks from behind me.

I turn, and it's my mother. "Mrs. Sinclair, how are you today?" The sweetness tumbles out of my mouth, and I try and hide the bitterness inside.

"Is that any way to talk to me?"

"You are nothing but a stranger to me. Sure, you gave me life, but you did it begrudgingly. I don't hate you anymore for not giving me love and attention. In some ways, I feel sorry for you. You are the one who missed out on me growing up. You missed out on my successes. You weren't there to pick up the pieces when I failed, or to clean me up when I fell. That honor goes to other people, along with my love and appreciation. I think this conversation is over. Have a nice life without the burden of a son." I say and quickly turn to walk into the store.

Something flows over me. I'm not sure how to describe it. I feel lighter. There is an absence of a heaviness in my heart. I don't want people to misunderstand, there are plenty of things, events, and people who still weigh heavy on me, but it is time to move on from then—for good. I will no longer try and beg for their attention. My future lies ahead, not behind.

Turning right to go up the hill to my house, my phone rings.

"Hello. Who is this?"

"Miriam"

"Is Tally okay?"

"In a way, and that's what I've called about."