about me
Names have been changed to protect the innocent...
...and the guilty.
Yes, it is my story and my life.
But my girlfriend helped me write it all down.
I figured being honest about that would be good.
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At times still feels like yesterday. But it's been a little over three years that I left a note for my parents, and hit the road with the cute guy and his band. They had no label, no gigs lined up, and barely any money, but I didn’t care. I was ready to chase freedom, adventure, and love.
The first few months were exciting—chaotic, but thrilling. We played dive bars and stayed in cheap motels, sometimes crashing on the couches of strangers who saw the band play. I told myself it was all part of the dream. I thought I was living the kind of life that songs are written about. But over time, cracks started to show. Zach wasn’t the dedicated artist I thought he was. He was more interested in partying than practicing, more focused on getting wasted than getting ahead. The gigs dried up, and so did our money, but Zach didn’t seem to care. I found myself working odd jobs just to keep us afloat while he kept chasing his dreams.
Then came the lies, the cheating. At first, it was little things—a message here, a flirty conversation there. But soon, it became clear that Zach wasn’t just in love with music, he was in love with anything that gave him a rush, whether it was the attention of some girl after a show or the next wild party. I tried to ignore it, hoping things would change. But they didn’t. Each betrayal chipped away at the idealized version of him I’d built up in my head. And with every lie, I lost a little more of myself.
Well, I’ve had enough. I’m tired of living someone else’s dream, of putting someone else's ambitions (or lack thereof) ahead of my own. Some days I have no idea who I am anymore, but I’m ready to find out. I left him a note, just like I left one for my parents three years ago. This time, though, I wasn’t chasing someone else’s dream. I was chasing my own future.
I don’t know exactly where I’m going, but for the first time in years, I feel free. I’m going to find my own way, build a life that’s mine. Maybe I’ll go back to school, or maybe I’ll do something completely different. All I know is that I won’t waste any more time waiting around for someone to figure out who they want to be. I’m done living in someone else’s shadow—this time, it’s my turn to take the stage.
