Chapter 6

Tears soaked my pillow. I woke up crying, staring into a pair of glowing eyes in the dark.

"Who are you?!"

I screamed, turning on the bedside lamp, and the woman instinctively covered her face. It was Donna, still wearing a mask, holding the trash bag tightly in her arms.

I rubbed my eyes, regretting not changing the password for the rented room. The couple mugs, pillows, and clothes I packed into the trash bag that afternoon were still there, hugged by her.

"What are you doing with those?"

Donna clutched the bag tighter, silently lowering her head. "Every piece here is a memory of ours. I can’t let go..."

"Even worthless things catch your eye?"

Sitting up in bed, I looked around for anything important. Now that we had broken up, I could just move out.

Donna held the bag, fingers lightly stroking it, her voice filled with grievance and disappointment:

"Dan, I know you don’t believe anything I say, but I truly only have you in my heart... No one has ever loved me as wholeheartedly as you do. I can’t live without you."

I shook my head, chuckling bitterly. The events of the afternoon played out like a cruel joke.

"Enough, did you love me so much that you flaunted your affection with Jessica in front of me? Should I be cheering you on?"

"Jessica wanted to drive to your place! I couldn’t stop him... And even if I was with him, I just made a mistake anyone could make. Can’t you forgive me a little?"

Her words were laughable, and as I laughed, tears fell. The year I loved her most, I worked 13-hour days and could only afford one meal a day. Life’s abyss chewed me up until only bones remained. Thinking I could help her cure her bipolar disorder was sweet in my heart.

"I can’t tolerate your deceit. The moment the lie was exposed, you became a thorn in my heart. Pulling it out will only make it bleed. But Donna, did you ever think that by using my sister’s situation to get close to me, you trapped yourself too?"

"What are you talking about?"

I didn’t respond, silently opening the door and waiting for her to leave. Her face turned pale, as if stung by my indifference. She clutched the bag tighter and walked towards the door.

"Don’t joke about bipolar anymore. Your so-called joke might make it harder for real patients to face their condition."

Like Rachel’s tragedy, it would happen again. After a while, Donna nodded lightly. Then she pointed to the jewelry box on the nightstand, still remembering that ring.

"Can I have this?"

"Jessica will buy you a better one."

"I only want the one you gave me. Dan, we were so happy before. Do you really not want me anymore?"

Her voice was soft, with a hint of desperation. I heard her muffled sobs, saw her trembling shoulders. I never imagined that Donna, the young heiress, would one day ask for my help. Knowing her pride and seeing her defeat didn’t bring me any joy. I just stood there silently.

Understanding my refusal, she quietly took the ring before leaving. Donna’s eyes turned red as she looked at me.

"Love me one more time, okay?"

"No."