NEVER WILL I TRY

lass of whiskey rested on the coffee table in front of him, the amber liquid catching the glow of a streetlamp outside. Tonight was one of those rare evenings when

d in his mind like chapters in a book he

ious, and full of energy. At first, he was mesmerized by her charm. Sandra had a way of making the mundane seem magical-every date felt like an adventure. But as the months wore

Jabari," she said, her voice dripping with condescension, "but I'm just not the type to settle." He

of woman who could have written a book titled How to Use People an

at a mutual friend's barbecue, and she had this quiet grace about her that drew him in immediately. S

rities and trust issues quickly became the center of their relationship. Every conversation felt like walking through a minefield; one wrong word and everything wo

yelled back, and they both said things that couldn't be unsaid. Cecilia's parting words-"You're just like all the ot

vision of spontaneity and creativity. She had an infectious laugh and a free spirit that made Jabari feel alive in ways he hadn'

n't believe in schedules, and had a penchant for disappearing for days at a time without

say whenever he confronted her. "L

n she maxed out his credit card on what she called "a spiritual retreat" without asking. He ended it that same day, and th

h woman had taught him something, even if those lessons came wrapped in heartbreak. Sandra had taught him to recognize selfish ambition. C

hing deeper? Was he chasing the wrong type of women, or wa

ded to take a break from dating altogether, focus on himself for a while. He

" he said aloud, the words

sit with the memories-of Sandra, Cecilia, and Lola-and the hope that, somewhere