Essence

Chapter 27: What Is Love?

*Author's Note: This is a longer chapter... with good reason... sorta. I have no idea why I even did this, but it was a great decision for the story now that I've finished it. I thought about removing it because I thought it was a bad idea, but I'm glad I kept it because this story would've been way different in a bad way. Happy reading!*

"Essence! You're back!" Myles gasped as I entered the cafe.

"Yeah.... A lot was going on, but I'm fine now... or at least getting better." I grinned.

"When we're on break, you wanna talk about it?" He asked.

"Yeah, that'd be great." I answered.

Then he examined me. Fuck... he's gonna ask it.

"What'd you do to yourself?" He groaned.

"I'll explain on break... It's why I've been gone so long." I sighed.

"Okay, let's get to work." He grinned.

We had a forty-five minute break, so then we walked around as we talked. Of course, not at a quick pace.

"I wish you didn't think of yourself in that way. You're gorgeous and amazing, and don't need to change anything about yourself." He sighed as we stopped walking.

"Thank you Myles, I know that now though." I giggled lightly.

"Many people have talked to you about this, but were you really listening?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" I queried.

"When I ask you 'do you think you're attractive', what comes to mind?" He questioned.

"Um... I think I have to be somewhat attractive since Daniel loves me, and you liked me, and I've had other people attracted to me." I muttered.

"But what about if you were single, and the whole thing between us never happened... Would you think you're attractive?" He questioned.

"No." I admitted.

He let out a sigh.

"E, you don't need a partner to be attractive. Having one doesn't make you attractive, and not having one doesn't make you unattractive. You gotta understand that. Take out your phone." He instructed.

I took it out, and he opened the camera.

"What do you notice?" He asked.

I notice how big my damn forehead looks. I thought.

"You're only looking at what you think are flaws..." He sighed.

I faced him.

"How'd you know?" I gasped.

"I can see it in your eyes. Stop looking at your flaws and look at your face as a whole." He suggested.

I tried it, and I felt really pretty.

"See, now you see yourself the way everyone else does. You're gorgeous." He gushed.

"Thanks, Myles." I grinned as we began walking back to the cafe.

I felt great, a lot happier.

                                                                                          ***

"You've been smiling for twenty minutes now." Myles chuckled.

"Well, I'm happy. This is how I express happiness." I giggled.

"Do you ever think about when we messed around?" He asked.

I almost dropped the drink I was making.

"I-I-I mean, sometimes... but that was all a mistake." I sighed.