- 7.
After Mike and I got together, life became fun
and easy.
He took me to do all kinds of fun things, like
skiing and ice skating.
No matter how busy he was, he always
cooked for me a few times a week.
“You need to take care of yourself.”
く
He always had a surprise for me.
Presents on Mondays to make the week
better.
Presents on weekends to celebrate another
great week.
Mike showed me what it was like to be truly
loved.
He wanted to give me the world.
Then I saw a familiar face outside the flower
shop.
Mark.
He was thin, his face sunken, with a scraggly
beard. He looked homeless.
く
He looked at me, and his eyes begged. His
lips were trembling.
“Jen, I finally found you.”
“Mark.” I said, polite but distant. “Come on in.
Mike, can you get Mark a cup of coffee?”
Mike nodded and gave us some space.
Mark looked nervous.
He twisted his sleeves, trying to say
something. “Jen, you must have been
miserable.”
I thought about it and said, “It was hard for a
while, but it’s over now.”
“We were married. When we were in love, I
L
was honest and devoted. I don’t regret that. I
don’t have anything else to say.”
“I have to get back to work.”
I turned to leave, but Mark grabbed my arm.
“Jen, I… I made a mistake. Amy tricked me
into signing those papers. I never wanted a
divorce.”
“And that day, I just wanted to drop Amy off
at the doctor. When I got back, you were
gone…”
All those old memories came back, tearing
open old wounds.
The pain and humiliation flooded me.
L
But he didn’t even notice.
So I cut him off. “I don’t care. Talk to my
lawyer.”
He looked over my shoulder at Mike.
“Who’s this guy? Is this why you won’t give
me a chance?”
“Are you doing this to get back at me?”
I smiled. “You’re reading too much into this.
I’m just living my life.”
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re just a bad
memory.”
He looked shocked.
く
I used to feel sorry for him.
But now, I just didn’t care.
I thought I made myself clear.
But he kept coming back.
Every time I frowned, he’d say he wanted to
buy flowers. He brought me a sunflower every
day.
“When I met you, you were like a sunflower. I
almost ruined you.”
His drama was both funny and annoying.
“I’m fine. You didn’t ruin me.”
He paused and said, “Yeah, I thought you
needed me. Before I got caught, I was still
seeing Amy. It was exciting.”
“After I lost you, I realized I was the one who
needed you.”
“I found out she sent you all those messages.
I understand how you felt. I felt like a piece of
crap.”
He started slapping himself hard, over and
over.
But I didn’t say anything.
Finally, his face red, he asked, “Do you want
me to keep going?”
I just frowned and looked at him. “Mark, I
don’t love you anymore. No matter what you
<
do, I don’t love you.”
“Just stop coming here. Let’s just leave things
as they are.”
