Breaking Point [Watty's 2015]

The After

I suddenly wake up from my sleep as I realize there is someone prodding my shoulder.

"Hey," a familiar voice says.

I look up to find none other than Mason Davidson. My ex-boyfriend.

"What do you think you're doing here?" I ask quickly, suddenly very self-aware of my situation right now. I pull up the white bed sheets, covering my body.

"I-I just wanted to come by and say I'm sorry," Mason stammers. "For, well, you know. Not supporting you when you needed it. I'm really sorry."

My hospital bed creaks as I sit up to get a better view. His eyes are really red, and his face looks puffy, as though he's been crying. But I wasn't going to fall for that anymore.

"Oh, please," I say, rolling my eyes, "you're so full of it. You're not sorry at all." I swallowed back the lump in my throat. "Tell me this, Mason -- if you were sorry, why would you have dumped me when I was possibly about to die?" I turn away from him so I won't have to see the longing look on his face. "Sure sounds sorry to me."

"I really am, though, I just thought you were being a popular girl, I never thought you had anore-"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore, Mason!" I blurt out. The words have the intended effect -- Mason quietly nods, leaves his flowers on the table, and starts to walk away.

Before he walks out the door, though, I say, "You know what really gets me about this whole thing?"

Mason freezes. We both know there's no good way to answer this question.

"You're the one who gave me that whole speech about feeling like you're not good enough, when we first got together, now weren't you?" Mason doesn't say a word. "Then-" I chuckle to stop myself from crying at the memory - "the moment I feel the same, you bail on me."

Mason says nothing, but I can hear his quiet sobs from across the room.

"That's all. You can go now. Have a nice life, hypocrite."

Mason begins to walk out the door, and I catch a glimpse of his face. It's covered with tears. A fresh pang of guilt hits me. 

I'm torn between letting him leave and get a taste of his own medicine, or calling out to him and apologizing for being such a jackass.

Then I remember how horrible it felt when he dumped me. How hard it was to know no one cared about me like he did, and might not ever. I remember how much I wanted to never see him again.

The feeling fills me, and makes it hard to breathe.

I blink quickly, trying not to cry, and turn away.