Chapter 4
I had barely bought anything for myself over the years, so the few belongings I owned fit easily into my old, worn–out suitcase. As I reached into the closet for the last of my clothes, the apartment door swung open. A thick wave of alcohol hit me before I even saw him.
“Emily, did you just call me?” Leon’s voice slurred, loud and intrusive. He stumbled in, his unsteady figure filling the doorway. His eyes were glassy and he reeked of booze and cheap perfume. He forced a grin, one that was both apologetic and taunting. “Don’t get the wrong idea–she’s just some girl from the bar. Nothing happened between us… well, you know, nothing serious, at least.”
Leon’s gaze drifted around the room before settling on me. His expression was muddled, a mix of confusion and
amusement, as if he couldn’t quite
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understand why I was packing. He took a step toward me, stumbling and the closer he came, the stronger that other woman’s perfume clung to him. My stomach lurched, a wave of nausea hitting me at the sickening blend of scents.
I took a step back, the muscles in my body tensing. Leon noticed, his eyes narrowing, a smirk playing on his lips. “Oh, are you afraid, Emily?” he sneered. “Afraid I’ll leave you? Don’t worry, as long as you stop nagging me about marriage, we can keep things just fine. Why get married? It’s such a hassle.”
He reached out, his hand grabbing my shoulder, squeezing just a bit too tightly as he leaned in close, his breath hot against. my cheek. “Come on,” he whispered, his voice thick with condescension. “Admit it-
you’ve come to your senses, haven’t you?”
I could feel his grip tightening as he tried to pull me closer, his body pressing against. mine. Panic surged through me and I
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twisted, managing to slip free. My hand swung up of its own accord, connecting with his cheek in a resounding slap.
The impact startled him, his head snapping to the side. He stumbled back, his eyes. wide in shock, before anger replaced his surprise. He steadied himself, rubbing his cheek, then laughed bitterly. “Emily,” he said, his voice a venomous whisper. “Don’t you dare. I’m giving you a way out here- don’t be ungrateful.”
The word “ungrateful” hung in the air and in that instant, something snapped inside me. I raised my hand and slapped him again, this time across his other cheek. My palm stung, but the satisfaction was worth it. “No, Leon, you’re the ungrateful one. Keep your so–called ‘way out‘ for yourself.
We’re over.”
For a moment, Leon stared at me, bewildered, his eyes narrowing as if he
were trying to decipher if I was serious. But his smirk soon returned, twisting his
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features into something ugly, bitter. “Oh, so you’re serious this time? Playing the same game again, huh, Emily?”
I didn’t respond. My heart felt as if it were tearing apart, but I didn’t let it show. I turned away, feeling a strange sense of release and walked out, leaving him standing in the mess of shattered
memories and broken frames.
The night air outside was cold, sharp against my face and I inhaled deeply, savoring the bite of it. But sadness still lingered, a heavy ache in my chest that no
amount of fresh air could ease.
I didn’t want to hear Leon’s voice calling after me or any more of his cruel words, so I hurried down the stairs with my suitcase in hand. My foot, still sore from the glass. shard, made each step painful, but I kept going.
Halfway down, my balance faltered. I slipped, landing hard on the stairs and my suitcase tumbled out of my grasp, rolling
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down the steps and scattering my belongings everywhere.
The hall was dimly lit, the quiet pressing in around me as I sat there, pain radiating from my foot and elbow. My clothes and a few personal items were strewn along the stairwell. I looked around, feeling a prickling behind my eyes. This was rock bottom–I couldn’t sink any lower. I braced myself against the railing, attempting to stand, wincing as pain shot through my ankle.
Just then, a gentle voice called from behind me, soft and unfamiliar.
“Emily, do you need help?”
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