“Steve had been pursuing me persistently for months, but I hadn’t been giving him much attention. We’d gone out several times, and during one of those moments, he proposed. I declined, saying, ‘I can’t date you.’ Steve replied, ‘I’d understand if you need time to get to know me, but saying you can’t date me means you’ve closed off any chance of falling in love with me, and that hurts.’.....See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
I apologized, explaining, ‘I could ask for time, but it wouldn’t change my decision. I’m sorry, you’re an incredible person, and I appreciate your care, but I can’t say yes.’
Coming out of a relationship that deeply wounded me, I’d shut myself off from love, which is why I didn’t even consider taking time to think about Steve’s proposal. Despite my stance, he persisted, urging me to judge him based on character rather than gender. But my mind was made up; I wasn’t ready to date anyone after what I’d been through.
The day before lockdown, he called me again, saying, ‘Annie, the world could end, and you still won’t give love a chance? What if we don’t get another day?’ His words struck a chord. I asked, ‘What do you want?’ He pleaded, ‘Just say yes to my proposal.’
During lockdown, I stayed with my longtime friend Alice, discussing everything, including my love life. I confided in her, ‘This guy Steve has been pursuing me since I broke up with Fiifi. Given my past experiences with love, I’m afraid to open up again. Another heartbreak would devastate me. Maybe it’s better if.