I didn’t dwell on it, taking a deep breath and opening the door.
Five years had passed; I noticed my professor had some gray hairs.
+15 Bonus
The shame of leaving despite his pleas washed over me. He looked at his most promising, yet most regrettable student, sighing, “This time, stay and work with me.‘
I nodded, suppressing my emotions.
He dismissed us, sending Marcus to help me to the dorm. I dropped my bag, lay on the bed, and sighed contentedly. I’d only napped on the plane; exhaustion hit me. I fell asleep without unpacking.
My phone rang, jolting me awake. Half–asleep, I answered. Dominic’s angry voice blasted through the phone. “Jane, where are you?!”
I was instantly awake. Seeing the time, I realized I’d only slept briefly. My annoyance and fatigue made my tone sharp. “It’s in the
calendar; we’re over.”
His anger intensified. “No, I didn’t agree!” “And you need to give me a reason.” “Leaving me on our wedding day with just a breakup–what’s that?”
Underlying his anger was a hint of hurt. He hadn’t wanted the breakup, hadn’t expected to be abandoned. After twenty years, how
could I leave?
I wanted to sleep, not argue.
“Beverly’s pregnant with your child. Would I marry the father of another woman’s child?”
“Besides, I realized you don’t love me.”
Silence. Just as I was drifting back to sleep, his voice, hoarse, came through, “So, you’re breaking up with me because of the
child?”
I didn’t answer. Beverly’s pregnancy was the trigger, igniting the already fragile foundation of our relationship. Over the past six
months with Beverly, I’d seen his tender side. I finally understood: he didn’t love me. That was the real reason.
“I don’t agree to the breakup. Tell me where you are; I want to see you,” he said.
I didn’t want to see him. Breakups aren’t like marriages; they don’t require mutual consent. One person’s decision ends it. A good
ex disappears from the other’s life. We didn’t need to meet.
