Bitter Goodbye

BECCA

It was 8 PM. My phone was recharged, but I kept it turned off. Soon, the boarding of my plane would be announced.

I was sitting at the airport, reading a book that I took with me. It was ~Wuthering Heights~ by Emily Brontë. I loved this book, and I read it so many times that I could even quote the main characters with my eyes closed. Right now, I couldn’t find joy in reading, and it was bothering me.

Because I remembered, still hurting. And it was driving me insane. How come I let someone fool me like that? How come I let this man break me so easily? It wasn’t right. No one deserves such treatment; it’s too cruel.

“You look a little lost. Maybe I could buy you a drink?” I blinked and focused my attention on the young man who was standing before me. He had blond hair and bright blue eyes. The clothes he was wearing were very neat and posh, maybe even snobbish. But he had an adorable smile.

“No, thanks.” I saw his smile fade a little. What the hell? Why not? He was a stranger, and I wouldn’t see him again. “You know what? One drink won’t hurt.”

“What about beer?” He had an accent. I looked at him more closely; I think he was British.

“Ale will be perfect.”

“I'm on it,” he winked at me and hurriedly strode to the cafe. Soon enough, he was back, and we started talking right away.

My guess was right. John was from London, and he came here to find himself. That’s what he told me when I asked him about his reasons. His journey came to an end, and he was waiting for his flight when he noticed me.

“What about you?”

“Well… I'm going back home. After eight years, I finally decided to return to my parents.”

“Just parents? Maybe a fiancé?”

I pursed my lips. He knew nothing, but he hit the nail on the head very quickly.

“No, just my parents. Love is overrated.”

“So beautiful and so cynical. What happened?”

“A man. He told me that I was the one. And I believed it. Let myself be fooled.”

“He lied to you?”

“Yeah, but his girl was so kind to me, explaining what an idiot I was.”

“Damn! He’s a jerk. Have you talked to him? What did he say in his defense?”

“Nothing. I turned off my phone after talking to his girlfriend.”

“I believe you should talk to him. You know, I had a big fight with my best friend. She sugarcoated the truth, and when I called her out on that, I almost clashed with her.

“But talking helped us understand each other. I'm not telling you what to do. You need to decide for yourself, and I'm just…”

I nodded. I understood everything.

John stayed with me for almost thirty minutes. I asked him about his impression of New York and his adventures here.

He was a nice guy, and I hadn’t regretted talking to him. It also helped me accept that I needed to speak to Logan for the last time. I needed to ask him to send me my clothes and other stuff that I left at his place.

Twenty minutes before my boarding, I grabbed my phone and finally turned it on. There were a lot of unread messages. Logan had called me almost every thirty minutes for the past four hours. He wanted to tell me about his change of plans.

Chase was right.

My phone started vibrating in my hands. Well, speak of the devil.

“Yes?” I answered.

“Finally! What happened to your phone? I’ve been calling you forever.”

“It’s been turned off.”

Logan’s voice was calm. He didn’t give a damn about me at all.

“Why?”

“Didn’t feel like talking.”

“How was your day?” He was testing waters. Like a sapper. He was trying to figure out my mood. I would have liked for him to go straight to the point and to finish this once and for all.

“Awful. But I am starting to get used to that.”

“What happened?”

“Why don’t you ask your girlfriend?”

I heard the announcement about my flight.

“Rebecca, are you high or what? You are my girlfriend, and I am asking you.”

“No, I am not. Your girlfriend was by your side yesterday at the club.”

“Wait… It’s… Are we talking about Teresa?”

“The one and only. Listen, Logan, I get that. I had time to think, and I understood everything.”

“Lucky you! I don’t have any idea what’s going on in your pretty head.” He called me pretty. But this time, I felt nothing. Yep, my emotions were still off.

“Well, I am about to board my flight so I’ve got to go. Could you please send my things to my parents’ house?”

“Flight?! Your things?! Rebecca, what the hell are you talking about?!” His voice was trembling. He was furious.

“I know everything. I saw it with my own eyes. I know that I was just a substitute for you so you wouldn't get bored to death while she wasn’t in town. Now she’s back, and you don’t need me anymore.”

“Rebecca, I've told you a thousand times that I want to be with you. I told you that I sent Teresa packing. I showed you that you could and should trust me… And you’re letting some photos screw with your mind?!”

“It’s not about the photos!” I raised my voice. “I know that you chose her! The rest is history!”

“Rebecca, baby, it’s bullshit… You know me. The real me. Why would I lie to you? Haven’t you seen how much I love you? Haven’t you seen the effect you have on me? Haven’t you seen how much I cherish and care about you?”

“You needed someone to fuck! And you used me for this! Now I am like a used paper being thrown in the dust.”

“Rebecca… This is the last time I am asking you to believe me. To trust me. Because I can’t do this anymore…”

“I know what I saw. And I prefer to trust my own eyes than someone else’s stories.”

“Fuck... You are nuts, Rebecca... Your trust issues are enormous... I hope you find a man who is able to put up with this craziness... Because I can’t... I will send you your clothes and other stuff. You can trust me... Goodbye, Rebecca.”

I put my phone in my purse and went to my gate. Yeah, being emotionless is damn good. Nothing hurts. Nothing matters. It is easier to put an end to it. Because when there is nothing that can bother you or affect you, you are untouchable, and your heart is a rock.

Hardened and cold. And that is exactly what I intend to be.