Page 116 of Six Years
When Grey doesn’t respond, his mother shakes her head. “Grey, you can’t. He’s going to…” she looks at me then back at Grey, continuing her sentence in Korean so I wouldn’t understand.
“I know. That’s why I wanted to see you before we told him,” Grey says. I’m just going to assume this is about Grey’s dad disowning his own son. “I’ll never see or speak to you again, I know that. But Mom, I choose my happiness this time. I can’t let Dad continue to control my life, and I won’t let him decide over who I get to love. It shouldn’t have to be this way but leaving my own family behind is myonlychance of being happy.”
A tear slips from Eun’s eyes, but she looks proud of him. “I understand.” She gives me a slim smile. “You look out for him, okay?”
“I will. I promise.”
I wish I could say that Grey shouldn’t have to do this. I wish I could say that he should’ve never told his parents about me because then he’d at least still have the potential of them in his life. If we break up one day, which I doubt, he could always go back but he won’t be able to after today.
But the reason why I can’t say either of those is because even if it wasn’t for me right now, Grey still had to do this for himself. He’ll never be happy if he keeps his father in his life, lets that man control him. Even if this wasn’t for and about me, as fucked up as it is, Greyhadto make that cut.
No kid should ever have to do this.
Chapter 4
“I guess that I forgot I had a choice”—Roar by Katy Perry
February 2026
I knew my motherwould like Luan, there was never a doubt in my mind about that one. Mom just wants to see me happy, and as long as I am, so is she, which is why I know she really understands that I have to cut off my family. Or at least the ones who will leave once my father cutsmeoff.
Even if I didn’t have Luan in my life right now and I’d been doing this for him, this is exactly what should happen; cutting off the people in my life who’ll always hold me back.
As much as I’d wish it was different, my father will forever be keeping me from being happy. He’ll always make me feel bad for who I am.
According to my mother, Dad’s in his office so that’s where we’re headed now. I told my mom she doesn’t have to be there, but she keeps insisting to come with us, not quite sure why. The second my dad sees Luan, he’s going to be a breath away from getting verbally abusive with me and it’ll only be a matter of time for him to insult me, my mother’s presence won’t change much.
By the time we reach my father’s office, I’m not sure how I’m still breathing. I’m not nervous, and still my hands are shaking. I think it’s fear that’s causing my nerves to go nuts, fear that’s pushing adrenaline through my veins.
“We can leave, you know?” Luan says and squeezes my hand for comfort. “If you’re not ready, it’s okay. You don’t have to introduce me to him.”
I shake my head. “I have to do this, Luan. It’s not about introducing you, this is about taking back control over my own life.” He could leave if he wanted to, but even if I suggested it, Luan wouldn’t go. He would stay right here with me.
Luan lifts our hands to his mouth and presses a kiss to my knuckles. It’s cute, really, and still I have this urge to laugh because I know he only did it because my mother is here with us, watching us. If she wasn’t here, he would’ve kissed me instead.
So I lean down and press a quick kiss right to his lips. “I love you.”
Luan smiles up at me. “More than ice hockey?”
I let go of his hand immediately and take a step back. “Now, let’s not get ridiculous here.” I do love him more than ice hockey, but if I said that, it wouldn’t do any good for his ego, let alone the baby narcissist inside of him.
“It was worth a try.” Luan sighs. “I love you, too.”
My mother chuckles and when I look at her, I see nothing but happiness on that face.
I take another few encouraging breaths before I finally knock on my father’s office door.
“Come in,” he snaps from inside the room. The tone of his voice makes me want to back off and leave, but I can’t. I’m doing this for myself, and it’s about goddamn time I do it.
So I open the door, not yet stepping inside.
My father looks up from his laptop screen, then down but back up in seconds like he’s taking a second look to make sure he’s seeingme. “I didn’t know you were coming home.”
“I didn’t know I would either.”
“Well, come on in.”
I don’t want to, but I do so anyway. With one quick glance at Luan, I step inside, pulling him after me. Once my dad sees Luan, his features turn to ice. He sends a more than disgusted look into Luan’s direction, fire burning in his eyes, and I swear if looks could kill, my father just burned my boyfriend alive.
