The Girl He Left Behind

•2•

I often dreamt of him, I dreamt of his smile. Of the way his eyes would light up when he saw me. I dreamt of our first kiss...

And our last.

But I was happy, because at least in my dreams I could be with him.

~

I groaned in pain the next morning when I attempted to stand up. Stupid leg, stupid gang members, stupid Abel. Maybe coming back here was not a good idea. I was perfectly fine in Boston studying to get my degree. But I decided to come here?

"Don't move so much," Abel said from where he sat on the couch, observing me.

I grimaced and looked down at my now stitched up wound.

"You stitched me up," I stated, looking down st my foot incredulously.

"Is that so surprising?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Yes.

"I'm surprised you didn't just let me die, then again I'm sure this is another trick of yours."

Abel cursed under his breath angrily before coming to kneel next to the bed so that our faces were level. I tried not to look into his eyes, instead focusing on the piercing on his lip. I never understood how guys managed to please a girl with a piercing on their lips. Doesn't that hurt? Like isn't it dangerous? Ew what if the piercing gets caught on something and they have to somehow get to a doctor-

"Stop thinking and look at me," he whispered, huskily.

I don't want to fall for another one of your games.

"I'm not playing this game anymore Abel. Thanks for the save last night but from now on stay the hell away from me," he chuckled and gave me a disbelieving look.

"You think I'm gonna stay away from you? Leslie, did you already forget?"

Please don't say it.

"Tú y yo somos uno, unidos por un lazo,"he whispered, his breath fanning over me, making me shiver involuntarily.

(You and I are one, united by a string).

He was referring to the legend of the red string. I hate him for bringing that up. He was the one who left me, not the other way around. How dare he say that we are still united by that stupid string?

"Don't even start with that shit," I growled crossing my arms and moving away from him.

"Since when do you swear?" He retorted, making me roll my eyes at the tone in his voice.

"Since you broke my heart. I've gained a whole new perspective on my life," he doesn't even flinch as I state this fact.

Obviously breaking a girls heart is nothing new for Abel.

"So it's my fault, of course," he murmured under his breath with a sigh.

Is he dense?

"Obviously," I stated and he just continued to stare at me,"what are you trying to say Abel?"

"Not everything was my fault Leslie, but blaming everything on me seems to be so easy for you. And if it's easier to blame me then fine, do it."

"Woah, ok," I said in shock, trying to piece together exactly what he was saying,"obviously your god damn ego has really gone to your head this time, because if you haven't realized yet. Everything is your fault. There is this thing called cause and effect stupid! Your actions do have consequences."

"You act as if you didn't do anything wrong! Your actions-"before he could finish I interrupted, because he had another thing coming if he thinks I'm just going to sit here and let him scream at me.

"You left me! You let your girlfriend and her sister insult me online! I came out looking like a whore and no one said shit to you. Your girlfriend even took you back, because she's so weak and stupid that no matter how many times you cheat on her she'll take you back. And you know what? I pity you Abel," I hissed, glaring at him as I shoved him in the chest,"because you will never understand what true love is. Because when you love someone you fight for them and you do not purposely hurt them. You know a part of me doesn't blame your girl, you had three years to manipulate her into believing she couldn't live without you."

Before he could even get a word out I leaned in to whisper one last thing into his ear,"los dos sabemos que lo que tienes con ella no es amor. Y lo que tenías conmigo lo mataste porque tenías miedo. Porque me diste demasiado poder y yo con unas palabras también te pude haber destrozado el corazón pero no lo hice. Yo no soy como tú, yo no lastimo a las personas que quiero."

(We both know that what you had with her wasn't love. And what you had with me you killed it because you were scared. Because you gave me too much power and I could have broken/destroyed your heart with a couple of words, but I didn't do it. I'm not like you, I don't hurt the people I care about).

He stiffened at my words and left the room.

Walk away, you always were good at doing that.

The expression on his face might haunt me, but I won't let him get to me. This is what he does. He manipulates women into feeling bad for him. Even though he's not the victim and he knows it. I cried for over a year for him. I'd wake up dizzy with a headache from all the crying and the lack of food.

Deep down I knew he was the love of my life and I just couldn't accept the fact that I had to let him go. I couldn't accept that I'd have to let go of all our plans, our promises, our phone calls, our messages, our inside jokes, everything. I had dated guys before Abel, around three and only one had broken up with me. But it didn't hurt, it definitely knocked my ego down a couple notches, but my heart stayed intact. That's how I know that what I had with Abel was real.

Because when he left, everything hurt.

But he was bad for me back then and I doubt he'd be any good for me now.

We are not one. True love or not, I won't let him fool me again. Maybe a year ago I would have been so happy that he wanted me back. But not now, not when I've been away long enough to clear my head and see through all of his lies.

He's just an immature little boy who has no clue what the meaning of true love is.

~