I couldn’t tell if the pain was from my stomach or my heart. “Nina told you I did it? And you believed her?”
“She’s never lied in her life!”
He declared righteously. “Handle the company stuff for me. She’s too scared to be alone.”
I sipped some warm water. “My stomach hurts. I can’t go.”
Nathan knew about my health issues from these past years.
When he was home, he’d always make sure I ate regular meals and took my medicine on time.
I don’t know when he stopped coming home altogether.
“Hannah,”
He sounded impatient, at his limit: “Your stomach problems are nothing new, can’t you just deal with it? I already told you, if Nina didn’t need me, I wouldn’t ask you to go.”
“Fine, I’ll figure something out.”
He was about to hang up.
I stopped him. “Are you coming home tonight?”
“Hannah, are you really going to be difficult right when Nina needs me most?”
I froze.
I thought I’d stopped caring.
But hearing those words felt like a knife to my lungs.
Even breathing hurt.
“It’s your birthday today, and our sixth anniversary.”
I gently rubbed my stomach. “Nathan, you promised we’d spend every anniversary together.”
Breaking up…had to be done in person.
Otherwise, it would make all our time together seem worthless.
“I…”
Nathan hesitated, sounding guilty. “I almost forgot.”
“Hannah, I’ll come right home, I’ll bring those pastries you love.”
Just as I was about to respond, I heard Nina cry out in the background.
Nathan didn’t even hang up properly, just started comforting her. “Don’t be scared, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
I ended the call, looking around our empty home, and suddenly laughed.
The clock hands turned round and round.
Night fell like a black curtain.
Only the food delivery guy had knocked on the door.
Nathan wasn’t coming back.
At 3 AM, my phone lit up.
A message from Nathan.
“Hannah, Nina keeps having nightmares. Don’t worry, I’ll be back before dawn. Wait for me.”
I stared down, sat motionless for a moment, then threw the takeout and cake into the trash, one by one.
Took a shower.
Then sent Nathan one last message.
Block. Delete. Done.
I grabbed my two packed suitcases and headed to the airport without looking back.
Nathan, this time I won’t wait for you.
My belongings—and myself—will leave this city today, once and for all.
This place never truly belonged to me anyway.
