If You Can't Love Me, Then Let Me Go

My blood boiled seeing the only memory I had of my parents shattered on the floor. As if that wasn’t enough, Maddie stomped on it.

“Don’t do that, Maddie! Stop!”

I rushed to stop her.

“Haha, why? This old junk deserved to be smashed. Just like you, Ava!” Maddie sneered, eyes wide and cruel. She shoved my shoulder and kept stomping the music box.

“I said stop!” I shoved her back, and she fell to the floor.

“Jason!” she screamed.

Jason burst into the room, panic flashing in his eyes when he saw blood dripping from Maddie’s hand—cut by the broken pieces of my music box.

He looked at me, frozen on the spot. “Why’d you hurt Maddie?! You know she’s a violinist! She can’t hurt her hands!” he shouted, veins bulging in his neck.

“B-but she broke my music box first, Jason.”

“Don’t make excuses!” He shoved me, and I fell hard.

“Ugh!”

The shards cut into my hands and legs. Jason didn’t care. He just kept yelling.

“You hurt someone over this damn thing?!”

He kicked the remains of the music box like it meant nothing.

“Jason, it hurts…” Maddie whimpered.

“Let’s go to the hospital.” Jason scooped her into his arms. “If anything happens to her hands and she can’t play anymore, you’ll pay for this, Ava.”

I was left alone, tears streaming down as I stared at the broken music box.

My heart ached so badly—Jason pushed me and left me hurt, yet he cared for another girl. He even kicked the only thing that mattered to me.

My hands trembled as I picked up the pieces.

“Dad… Mum… I’m sorry,” I whispered through sobs.

Nothing was left. Not my parents’ memory. Not my love for Jason.

I forced myself up even though my limbs were screaming. My wounds were worse than Maddie’s, but Jason didn’t even notice.

I went to the hospital on my own, then came back to Aunt Mae’s house. She was shocked and nearly cried when she saw my injuries.

“Oh dear, Ava, what happened to you?!”

She gently touched the bandage on my arm.

I gave a weak smile and shook my head. “It’s nothing. I just tripped,” I lied.

She kept pressing me, but finally dropped it when I insisted.

Inside, I cursed myself for lying again. I didn’t want her to know I got hurt because of the jerk I loved.

“I’m sorry, Auntie… I’ve been such a terrible liar,” I said to myself.

There were so many lies I told her. One of them was about where I lived.

I said I moved out of the campus dorm and was staying with a friend, so she wouldn’t come visit.

But the truth was, I’d been living with Jason.

I had just a few things left at Jason’s place, and I planned to leave them behind. But his message forced me to return.

“Ava, don’t tell me you really left. You’re at your aunt’s place, right? I’m coming to get you now. Please, come back, Ava.”

I replied to Jason’s message right away and left Aunt Mae’s house.

I didn’t want her to see him and make things even messier.

Tomorrow I was flying to London and leaving it all behind.

Jason was already waiting at home when I arrived. He smiled.

“Come here, Ava.”

Like I was some pet, he patted his thigh for me to sit. This time, I did.

“I’m so glad you came back. Are your wounds bad?” He hugged me, sounding cheerful.

“Not really,” I muttered.

“Ava, it broke my heart seeing you hurt.” He kissed my bandaged hand.

I forced a smile. He was the one who did this to me. Had he already forgotten?

“I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to snap at you earlier. You know you’re the only one in my heart.”

Another lie.

“I care about Maddie 'cause of my family. My dad’s got business ties with hers, so I can’t just ignore her.”

I said nothing. Jason always flipped like this—from harsh to sweet in seconds.

“Tonight, I’ll stay with you, Ava. I’ll take care of your wounds too,” he said.

I smiled faintly and nodded. Jason brought me to the room, changed my bandages, stayed close.

I didn’t expect him to actually care for me. His arms felt warm, and his words were like a lullaby.

I thought, maybe… maybe he’s changed.

But when his phone rang, he pulled away immediately. I didn’t need to ask—I knew it was Maddie.

“Ava, I gotta go,” he said.

“Jason, you promised you’d stay tonight. Can’t you just… stay?” I held his hand.

“Sorry.”

One word. Then he was gone. I let out a bitter laugh.

“What the hell was I even hoping for?” I muttered.

I left the money Jason had given me and tossed the cheap ring beside it. It wasn’t even close to the diamond he got for Maddie.

The next day came, and by late afternoon, I was off. Aunt Mae hugged me tight, tears in her eyes.

“Sweetheart, call me when you land, alright?”

“Of course, Auntie…”

“I hope you find happiness in London. Don’t forget to reach out to Julian,” she said, stroking my cheek.

I nodded. But I probably wouldn’t. My professor had already arranged for me to meet someone else in London.

I sat in my seat on the plane. Right before switching off my phone, I saw Jason’s message. I read it—then blocked his number.

“Goodbye, Jason,” I whispered, staring out at the golden Sydney sky.

Jason was my first boyfriend, and being with him taught me never to make the same stupid mistake again.

In the end, I left to find my own happiness.