Haunted by past failures, Mandy finds herself drawn back to a destructive relationship, battling self doubt and the lingering hope that this time, things will be different

Five times. Five times I had sworn off love. Five times I’d built castles in the sand, only to watch them crumble into dust. Yet, here I was, heart pounding like a trapped bird, staring into the eyes of someone who made my soul sing. Fear, cold and insidious, coiled around my ribs. Had I learned nothing? I whispered to the mirror, the reflection staring back at me with a mixture of hope and terror.

At barely 25, I already love differently. The worst of it was losing myself completely, overstepping boundaries I thought I’d never cross. I have so much to warn my future children about love and relationships, things I wish all parents could share with their kids once they start showing signs of falling in love. I believe that growing up in a happy, healthy home where parents demonstrate genuine love for each other profoundly influences a child’s expectations for their own relationships. It makes it incredibly difficult to settle for anything less than the best, or as I call it, ‘the bare minimum.

Call me a fool, but I’m willing to risk it all for love. Again. I believe I’ve found someone worthy of the gamble, but a chilling voice whispers, ‘Misery awaits.’ Join me as I navigate the waters of my love life, a journey filled with both exhilarating highs and devastating low.