The Last Time I Loved Him (Autumn and Ryan)

At the hospital, the doctor carefully removed the thorns embedded in my skin. It felt as if years of love were being drawn out with each one.

The next morning, I noticed a rare voice call from Jacob.

"Why aren't you answering?"

"Aren't I still blocked by you?"

After a pause, he replied, "I'll be home in half an hour with fresh cream puffs and egg tarts. Oh, and I bought a new wedding ring.

Sorry for how things have been; it won't happen again."

I glanced at the time and replied, "There is no 'next time' for us."

But he'd already hung up.

With three hours until noon, I tried his computer passwords, finally unlocking it with Jasmine's birthday. I waited, but as an hour passed, Jasmine posted again, showing her hand entwined with Jacob's, both wearing matching new wedding rings. Smiling, I used his account to send our story and evidence of his infidelity to everyone at his company. Then, I smashed the laptop, grabbed my suitcase, and headed to the airport.

As I went through boarding, a flood of messages and calls came in. I could almost see Jacob's furious face and hear my mother's hysterics. None of it mattered anymore. I removed my SIM card, tossed it into the trash, and felt a profound silence settle over me. On the plane, as clouds drifted by, it felt like everything from my past was finally saying goodbye - my childhood, my love, my family, my life. I knew neither Jacob nor my mother would ever follow me or change for me. The two people I once valued most were no w just memories.

For the first time in a while, I slept soundly on the plane, without nightmares or Jacob's interruptions. There were no ghosts of the past-only the promise of the future.noveldrama

When I landed, Ellie waved at me, her smile fading as she noticed the bruises and scars on my body.