I Choose Myself Deepti Novels & Stories

I had registered the full concept, along with the visual drafts. Wyatt said, "They're betting you'll go soft." "Then, they'll lose that bet." … On the day of the exhibition opening, I went in person. At the entrance stood a massive fog lamp installation, almost an exact copy of my wedding design. Gabriella, dressed in white, stood beneath it, giving interviews to the media. "This collection is about waiting and belonging," she said. "When I was most lost, someone left a light for me." A reporter asked, "Is that Mr. Shepherd?"

Before I could even say no, he walked straight into his study and shut the door behind him. I glanced at the flight confirmation on my phone. Departure time: tomorrow. I was a freelance designer; I could live anywhere. The only reason I stayed in New York was Louis, and now, that reason was gone. Walking past the study door, I heard Monica’s sickly-sweet voice. "Louis, are you really sure you want to go to the World Cup with me? Is Skyler going to be mad at me? If she’s upset, I can just watch it by myself..."

She cast Aiden aside and stood next to Olivia. Her hands went under her breasts. She took a bold stance in front of Nancy and tilted her head to the side. “And you are?” “And why do you care?” Nancy answered back. “However, I'm Nancy Ash—” “Oh wait!” Jade gasped. She squinted her eyes at Nancy trying to recollect where she had seen this face before. And when she did, her eyes grew large. “I know you! You're the meme girl. My most used meme.” Jade took out her phone, she scrolled through it for a while before flashing it on Nancy's face.

The answer came softly but heavily, “You.” Ava stood there, breathing fast, looking at both versions of herself as everything inside her pulled in different directions, like she was standing at the center of a storm made of her own identity. Then slowly, her voice lowered into something more steady, more certain. “I don’t want to lose any part of me.” The figure smiled faintly. “Then you are ready.” The other Ava nodded gently. “Finally.” Ava closed her eyes, and when she spoke again, her voice was quiet but absolute. “I choose all of me.”

I didn't known she was this beautiful, or maybe it's because I've never seen her in working clothes. Listening to her speech, I became agitated. She introduced herself as 'Jasmine Peterson.' Really?. “i mean it's not like I care anyways.” I said out loud. She had so much confidence and charisma displayed while she was talking. She even spoke with authority and her words were clear and concise. I'm impressed by how she conducted herself, despite the circumstances. But beneath my admiration, I still felt angry at the little witch my father chose for me. How could she assume office so quickly, without even consulting me? Didn't she know that her actions could affect a lot of things?

"And me? Where do I fit?" "You?" She smiled, small, uncertain, real. "You're the one who taught me that patience isn't fear. That control can be choice. That I can want someone without disappearing into the wanting." She reached for her water, didn't drink, just held it. "But I'm also using you. To escape him. To prove something to myself. To—" She stopped, the honesty becoming painful. "To become. I don't know if that's love or if that's just—"

But I paid them no attention and carried on looking at the paintings to kill time. The largest portrait in the hall was covered with a white cloth. Right at that moment, a draft blew through the hall, lifting a corner of the cloth and revealing part of the portrait's chin. For some reason, it looked strangely familiar. Meanwhile, Samuel was saying to the crowd, "I only managed to achieve this level of success today because I chose Sienna back then. As for Isabella, she was just the most ordinary one among all my admirers. In fact, she's not worth mentioning at all."

It felt like we were being held in place long enough to say what mattered. I took a breath, steadying myself before speaking. “I choose you,” I said. My voice did not shake. “I chose you, knowing exactly who you are,” I continued. “Not the version you show the world, but the one that stands here with me.” He did not look away. “I choose you because you do not hide behind control anymore,” I said. “You let yourself be seen, even when it is uncomfortable.” I stepped closer. “I will not disappear into you,” I said. “I will not lose who I am to make this easier.”

“I-I…” “Yeah,” She sighed, looking away from him, “You don't have to say anything, because I already know the answer. You did it for me, you're always doing things for me. It's not fair to you that you can't have a single day to yourself because I'm selfish.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” “I thought I was alone.” I look back at the water. “I’m Kimi. I tend to the pool. Keep it clean. That sort of stuff. You’re the Phoenix.” She sits down and dangles her legs in the water beside me. I nod. “About the only thing I am.” I mumble. She leans on her knees. “What else do you want to be?” I look up, blinking tears away. “I want to be me. I want to be normal.” I lower my head. “Then maybe people would really love me instead of lie to me.”