The Last Time I Loved Him (Autumn and Ryan)
Chapter 27

Chapter 6

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.

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