"Are you really leaving?"

I paused, tempted to look back. However, I have decided against it. I made my decision. I wasn't letting myself be tricked any longer.

"Yes."

Just when I began to walk away, he gripped my arm and pulled me to face him. But I kept my gaze low and tried to pull away.

"Let me go!"

He didn't budge, instead, he held both my arms and forced me to face him.

"Then why won't you look me in the eyes and say it!"

The longer he held unto me, the more my blood boiled. It was painful to feel the same gentle hands digging into my skin. His warm voice sounded so cruel, I feel it piercing my whole being.

"I love you," he declared, the familiar affection in his voice. "Thea, I love you."

I bit my lips and scolded myself to keep my tears from falling. No, he's lying. He doesn't love me. He's using the same tricks.

He caged me in his firm embrace and burrowed his face on the nook of my neck.

"Don't leave me," he whispered, as if he was close to crying.

I squeezed my eyes shut and steeled my heart. With the strength I had left, I pushed him away. I met his eyes and even if I knew I was close to crying, I swallowed my pain.

"I loved you, too," I screamed, surprising the both of us. "I did and you kept giving me reasons to stop loving you. You never trusted me, didn't you?"

I pointed my fingers at him while my blood run to my head.

"You kept testing my feelings, forcing your assumptions on me. You held everything I might have done wrong against me. You never listened!"

If I really saw guilt in his eyes, I wasn't sure. My vision was blurring and my heart competed with my voice. He tried to hold me agaon but I stepped away.

"No! Stay away from me, Vince."

A sob escaped my lips and I knew I couldn't stop my tears anymore.

"You wanted to know how much I love you? Well, I've ran out of it! Find someone else to love you even when they've lost their freedom."

I blinked away my tears and swallowed the bump in my throat.

"Someone who'd tolerate your whims. How about a sex doll even?"

I turned and ran away the best I can. My head ached and I couldn't breathe properly. Was he catching up? I don't know. But I wish he wouldn't bother trying again.

A moment longer with him and I'll forget how to love myself.
© rena