Good Things Come

“Nice to meet you,” my perfect match says, smiling like he already knows me. I take his hand, steadying myself, trying to ignore how quickly everything about him puts me at ease. This is what I’ve spent my life preparing for. Saving. Sacrificing. Believing. And now that I’m finally here, I can feel it—that quiet certainty that everything is about to fall into place. But I’ll soon learn that some things only look perfect at the beginning.

For the first time ever, I believe the rest of my life will go exactly as I planned it. Adam Ruffin—my perfect match—is giving me what I never had: security, attention, and the feeling that I finally matter.

And I’ve earned this. Since the day we confirmed our match, every moment has felt like more than a dream.

That’s until things start to change.

At first, it’s easy to explain away.

The way he insists on coming with me everywhere.

The way he talks about the life I should want—one that doesn’t include my career.

The rooms in his house I’m not allowed to enter.

I tell myself I’m overthinking things.

That this is what love looks like.

That this is what I asked for.

But the feeling doesn’t go away.

It grows.

Until I can’t ignore it anymore.

Until it’s already too late to leave.

But if Adam is not the man I know I deserve, then he’ll soon learn he’s not the only one capable of doing damage.