Before Brennen ever contacted me on a dating app, he had challenged his friends by claiming he could make any woman fall in love with him. His friend Caleb bet him $500 that he couldn’t make me say “I love you” within six months. Suddenly, the flowers, romantic dates, and thoughtful messages felt like part of a calculated game.
Brennen insisted that his feelings had eventually become genuine, but he couldn’t explain why he had hidden the truth. Even worse, I later discovered he had asked his friends to deny the bet and convince me it had been exaggerated. Although he repeatedly apologized and begged for another chance, I couldn’t trust him anymore.
When Brennen appeared outside my apartment asking to start over, I returned his spare key and ended the relationship. I gradually rebuilt friendships I had neglected and remembered why I had gotten my butterfly tattoo: to symbolize freedom and choosing myself. Brennen had tried to turn my love into a game, but he couldn’t take away my self-respect. This time, I chose myself again.
