The Fear of Opening Up
We opened our relationship.
I never thought those words would come from me — not out loud, and definitely not as a choice. For so long, I believed love had to look a certain way. Neat. Exclusive. Possessive, even. A love that holds tight, because letting go might mean losing everything.
But one night, wrapped in warm sheets and even warmer silence, we talked. Really talked. Not from fear. Not from dissatisfaction. But from curiosity. From trust.
And that conversation cracked something open in me.
The Journey to Trust
We didn’t rush. We read books. We listened to podcasts. We spoke about boundaries, desires, insecurities, and “what ifs.”
We promised honesty, not perfection.
We promised care, not control.
And then… we opened.
Expectations vs Reality
I expected the worst — to feel like I was being replaced, to drown in jealousy, to question every look, every word.
But it didn’t happen that way.
Instead, I watched him walk out the door for a date — and I didn’t feel broken. I felt… proud. Nervous, yes. But also strong. Capable.
There was something oddly tender in watching him live freely — knowing that he would come home, not because he hadto, but because he wanted to.
Rediscovering Myself
Then came my turn.
I dressed slowly. I met someone new. We talked about books and music and the little things I love but had long tucked away.
And I felt something I hadn’t in a long time: myself.
Not the partner. Not the girlfriend. Not the half of a duo trying to keep everything balanced.
Just me.
Flushed with excitement, electric with possibility.
Coming Back Stronger
We came back to each other that night.
More honest, more open, more alive.
I realized opening our relationship wasn’t about losing each other. It was about gaining space — space for growth, for freedom, for deeper connection.
I didn’t fall apart.
I came alive.
