Chapter 3
The moment the door slammed shut, I heard the crash of something breaking inside.
With nowhere else to go, I ended up at a hotel.
James called every single day. But I hung up without a second thought.
My WhatsApp was flooded with his messages, too.
It felt like when we first got together.
He kept telling me about his day, like before.
He made my favorite dishes and brought them to my office every day.
When I refused or flat-out ignored him and wouldn't see him at all, he still kept doing it.
He kept doing all this, no matter what.
He stubbornly believed we hadn't broken up.
My coworkers kept urging me to make up with him. "Come on, couples fight all the time. Let it go. Guys like him are rare. You won't get another shot like this."
After he bought coffee for everyone in the office again, I pulled him aside to a quiet corner. "James, we've broken up. Please, can you stop doing this? It's bothering me."
James pulled me into his arms.
His voice was choked with emotion. "Claire, I can't accept breaking up. Please, let's not end things.
"Tell me what I did wrong, and I'll change. I'll do anything, as long as you don't leave me.
"Claire, we love each other so much. Please, don't walk away from us so easily."
For a split second, I found myself craving the familiar warmth of his embrace.
But then I pushed him away and wiped the tears from my face. "James, I made myself clear that day.
"Your love can't fix Emily's problems, and it can't take away the constant fear I feel that she might do something drastic. I'm tired. I can't keep living like this, always anxious. We—"
Before I could finish, his phone suddenly blared with that annoying ringtone he'd set for Emily.
I saw Emily's name lighting up on his phone. I gave a faint, indifferent smile. "Pick up. You wouldn't want to regret it if something happens to her."
James looked at me, his eyes full of conflict. But in the end, he answered the call. "Emily, I've told you everything you need to know. Please, stop reaching out to me. You—"
Emily's mom's voice was breaking apart with desperation on the phone. "James, this is Linda. Please, you have to come to the hospital. Emily woke up and didn't see you, and she tried to cut her wrists. I'm begging you, please, come see her.
"James, you and Emily grew up together. Please, I'm begging you, don't let her down."
As expected, James immediately grew anxious. "Claire, please wait for me. Linda called, said Emily's not doing well again. I'm heading over right now. "
Watching him rush off, I scoffed, cold and bitter.
This was how it always went.
There was always something more important, always something more urgent than me, and there was always Emily, ready to hurt herself at the drop of a hat, which made him walk away from me without hesitating even when he was desperately begging me to stay.
I was so emotionally drained, more than I'd ever felt in my life.
I thought about packing up and leaving this city behind. Getting as far away as possible, and letting all these exasperating people and things go to hell.
But as I scrolled through my phone and saw the work group chat buzzing with updates on that big project, I forced myself to swallow that urge.
It's not worth giving up the career foundation I've worked so hard to build over the years for some man.
James went MIA for two days, not a single word from him.
Two days later, Emily showed up in front of me.
She looked heartbreakingly vulnerable, pleading with me, her eyes full of tears. "Claire, please, I'm begging you. Can you let James come back to me?
"I can't live without him. Last time, when I tried to hurt myself, I didn't want to go on anymore. I wanted to let you two be together.
"But James doesn't want me to die. He still cares for me. He still loves me.
"So please, let James come back to me. If you do, I'll do anything you ask.
"Claire, I want to live. Please, give James back to me. Please, save me."
She clung to my arm, her fingers cold and shaking with desperation.
Annoyance surged through me, hitting me like a punch to the head.