You Hurt Me Once, I’m Gone Forever

"Isaac, didn't we break up?" I said on the other end of the phone.

After a few seconds of silence, Isaac's voice rose and he yelled at me. "Anna, you really think you're something?!"

"You think I really wanted to call you? If it weren't for Alma—"

I cut off, "Then don't call."

I already guessed what Isaac was going to say. He was going to say that even this call was because Alma persuaded him. 

He'd already given me a way out and I had to do as he asked. If I didn't take the bait, I'd be ungrateful.

But I didn't want to back down anymore.

I told Isaac, "I don't care what you and Alma do. I just want to tell you, Isaac, we've broken up."

That day, my stomach hurt so badly I curled up in bed, begging Isaac to take me to the hospital. I was trembling with pain, my face pale, clutching Isaac's hand, pleading with him to take me.

Isaac agreed.

He hurriedly found my medical insurance card, grabbed his coat and was about to carry me out when he suddenly received a call from Alma.

“Isaac, what do we do? Grandma’s gone again!”

“What if something happens to her? What if she dies, Isaac?”

“Isaac, I’m scared. Can you come stay with me?”

I remembered everything.

Remembering, I was so weak that I grabbed Isaac's hand, crying and begging him to choose me this time, crying and pleading for his scales to lean on me this time as well. 

But after struggling and hesitating, he told Alma, "I'm coming right away."

He pushed my hand away, a struggle flashing across his face.

“Anna, there are priorities. Alma’s grandma isn’t in her right mind right now. If something happens, it’s her life on the line. Just wait for me—”

"Isaac!" I cried until I broke down, telling him with all my might. "If you dare leave… If you leave now, we're breaking up!"

"Isaac, you dare to break up with me?" 

I completely lost control of my emotions, collapsing so violently that I grabbed something to smash at Isaac, but I saw a flash of disgust in his eyes. 

His hesitation vanished, replaced by a cold, contemptuous statement. "Anna, I hate being threatened the most."

Isaac left.

I was so weak that I crawled to the bedside to call the emergency services. I was taken to the hospital and had my own appendectomy. I never saw Isaac again until I was discharged.

It seemed like I really had to get through that phase, so that I would really stop being so attached to certain things.

Before, I always wanted to compete with Alma, to win Isaac's heart.

But then, I heard Isaac's shrill voice, "Anna, you'll regret this!"

"Even if you kneel down and beg me, I won't agree to be with you!"

I could hear Isaac's heavy breathing and imagine his face contorted with rage. Isaac was very proud, so when he was furious and determined to fight me...

Alma had already come in handy and told him, "Isaac."

"Don't hold it against Anna. In the end," Alma suddenly choked up, "it's all because of me."

"Anna still won't accept me."

I didn't want to listen to Alma's continued tirade, so I just told Isaac, "Once I'm done here, I'll go back and get my things. From now on, let's have nothing to do with each other."

I hung up the phone and let out a long sigh of relief.