Girls are taught a lot of stiff growing up:
If a guy pinches you, he likes you.
Never try to trim your own bangs.
And someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending.
Every movie we see, every story we're told implores is to wait for it.
The third act twist: The inexpected declaration of love.the exception to the rule.
But sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending.
We don't learn how to read the signs.
How to tell the ones who want us from the ones who don't.
The ones who will stay from the ones who will leave.
And maybe this happy ending doesn't include a wonderful guy.
Maybe it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over.
Freeing yourself up for something better in the future.
Maybe the happy ending is just moving on.
Or maybe the happy ending is this:
Knowning that through all the inreturned phone calls and broken hearts.
through all the blinders and misread signals...
through all of the pain and embarrassment...
you never, ever gave up hope.