Love Withdrawal is an emotional romantic drama about love, betrayal, and painful choices of the heart. A woman finds herself torn between two men—one representing stability and loyalty, the other awakening deep passion and unresolved emotions. As feelings intensify, she is forced to confront the consequences of love, regret, and emotional withdrawal.
This cinematic story blends love triangle, emotional betrayal, romantic tension, heartbreak, and difficult relationship choices into a viral short movie experience. Perfect for fans of dramatic romance, toxic love dynamics, and emotionally charged storytelling.
#LoveWithdrawal #LoveTriangle #RomanceDrama #ShortDrama #ShortMovie #ShortFlim #ShortFilm #ViralDramaSeries #TrendingDrama #LoveStory #FamilyDrama #EmotionalDrama #ModernDrama #HistoricalRomance #ReelsShort #FullEpisode #Heartbreak #Betrayal #CinematicDrama #ViralStory #DramaSeries
This cinematic story blends love triangle, emotional betrayal, romantic tension, heartbreak, and difficult relationship choices into a viral short movie experience. Perfect for fans of dramatic romance, toxic love dynamics, and emotionally charged storytelling.
#LoveWithdrawal #LoveTriangle #RomanceDrama #ShortDrama #ShortMovie #ShortFlim #ShortFilm #ViralDramaSeries #TrendingDrama #LoveStory #FamilyDrama #EmotionalDrama #ModernDrama #HistoricalRomance #ReelsShort #FullEpisode #Heartbreak #Betrayal #CinematicDrama #ViralStory #DramaSeries
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Short filmTranscript
00:03roderick ripped my shirt open and froze my back was covered in scars old and new all from whippings
00:11what the hell happened here i misbehaved they punished me for it my voice was flat
00:19like i was talking about someone else's body he stared at the scars he'd never seen
00:24then he said you deserved it he sent me to that place three years ago to cure me of loving
00:34him
00:35i spent three years locked inside that place
00:40now i stopped loving him just as he wanted
00:47then he came running back and said
00:52i regret it
00:57for eight years i was a fixture by side
01:01everyone said i was addicted to him
01:05i was so obsessed with him that i'd run off any woman who got close to him
01:11whatever it took
01:13once i offered one of them money to leave roderick
01:17the woman laughed in my face
01:23being with roderick meant an endless supply of cash
01:26why would anyone walk away for such a pathetic amount
01:31then that woman took a staged fall down a flight of stairs
01:37roderick thought i pushed her
01:42and i ended up being sent to a rehab center by him
01:47others went there to quit smoking drinking or gaming
01:51i was there to let go of roderick
01:54in the end i succeeded only for him to tell me he regretted it
02:00the moment i stepped out of the rehab center
02:03i saw an audi parked there it looked totally out of place
02:08i glanced at it and lowered my head
02:10preparing to walk away
02:13the person who got out of the car called out to me
02:17it was roderick
02:18he had grown more mature in the last three years
02:22i glanced at him once then looked away
02:25the staff at the center taught us that staring was rude
02:28especially at someone we liked
02:31yes
02:32after three years i had been completely reformed
02:39roderick told me to get in
02:40i did so
02:44sitting quietly in the back seat
02:48i kept my head down staring at my lap and not moving a muscle
02:55roderick sat beside me
02:58i could feel the weight of his intense gaze
03:03the car was dead quiet
03:05i held my breath scared to make a peep
03:10but a cough escaped me anyway
03:12i've had this cough ever since the hard beatings at the center
03:17roderick glanced at me
03:21frowned
03:23then he turned away and rolled down the window
03:26as if my cough disgusted him
03:28the car pulled up at the dunlap's mansion
03:34roderick's grandmother
03:37maggie dunlap lived there
03:40it hit me why roderick had come to get me
03:45today
03:46as i remembered
03:47marked her 80th birthday
03:50maggie had always believed i was the one for roderick
03:54the only person who did
03:56also the one who signed the papers to send me into rehab
04:00he got out of the car
04:01didn't wait for me
04:04i hesitated for a second
04:05then blurted out
04:09um roderick
04:12i didn't bring a gift
04:13he stopped
04:15for half a second
04:16i still hoped he might say something like it's fine or my grandma won't care
04:20but
04:21follow me
04:25he walked through the door without looking back
04:28my feet stopped at the steps
04:30i didn't want to go in
04:31my heart was pounding out of my chest
04:36from fear
04:38marie
04:39you're back
04:40come in dear
04:41maggie stood at the front door
04:43her arms half open
04:44waiting for me
04:50i walked toward her
04:52forcing my legs not to freeze up
04:56hello maggie
04:59marie honey
05:00why are you being so distant
05:05you're not mad at me for what happened
05:07are you
05:10maggie stroked my hair
05:12her eyes full of affection
05:15i shook my head
05:18her touch felt warm
05:21but it also reminded me of the last time she'd held me
05:26three years ago
05:28in a courtroom hallway
05:30if maggie hadn't threatened to harm herself to save me
05:33i probably would have been sent to jail instead
05:36she saved me from a cell
05:38but rehab was just a different one
05:43she let us inside
05:49the dining room stretched before me
05:53long table
05:55dim yellow light
05:57three place settings
06:00just like the dining hall at rehab
06:05i stopped at the doorway
06:06my feet just wouldn't move
06:09marie
06:10come sit honey
06:12maggie's voice was gentle
06:14but i couldn't make myself step forward
06:18dinner tables were dangerous places
06:27i sat down at the very edge of the chair
06:32roderick took the seat across from me
06:38maggie at the head
06:40the spaghetti was already on the table
06:45i stared at it
06:47the rules from rehab ran through my head
06:49head down
06:51no sound
06:53no reaching for anything else
06:56then i started eating as fast as i could
07:02marianne
07:04marianne
07:06yes sir
07:07i set down my fork and shot to my feet
07:09the chair scraped the floor behind me
07:11no one moved
07:12roderick's hand was frozen mid-air
07:15still holding his fork
07:17maggie's wine glass hovered halfway to her lips
07:20i stared at the silverware i'd lined up straight
07:23then at my plate
07:26it was empty and clean
07:27i just stood there waiting
07:30someone was supposed to tell me what to do next
07:32but no one said anything
07:35the silence was worse than any punishment
07:39then it hit me
07:41i wasn't at the center anymore
07:45my hands started shaking
07:48you scared her you big idiot
07:54maggie's voice cracked
07:55she set down her glass and stared at roderick
07:59her eyes wet
08:00neither of them looked at me
08:01roderick's jaw was tight
08:04he didn't defend himself
08:07sit down mary
08:08you're home now sweetie
08:10just relax
08:12i sat
08:14but i couldn't eat another bite
08:18something about the way they looked at me
08:20or didn't look at me
08:22told me they'd seen it
08:25the girl who walked in three years ago was gone
08:28and the one sitting here now
08:31was someone they didn't recognize
08:36grandma was talking to you
08:38why weren't you listening
08:40roderick's tone was sharp
08:42i couldn't tell if he was mad
08:44i'd ignored maggie
08:45or just ticked off about getting swapped
08:51i'm sorry at maggie
08:53i was just very hungry
08:54i didn't hear you
08:55i gave her an apologetic look
08:57the counselors at the center always drilled it into us
09:00apologies have to be sincere
09:03only i knew the truth
09:04it wasn't hunger
09:06it was fear
09:08fear of getting punished for not eating fast enough
09:11or for leaving food on my plate
09:13i vaguely recalled her telling me to try the other food
09:17i'd heard her but i just couldn't react fast enough
09:20so roderick called out to me
09:22by the time dinner was over
09:23my forehead was covered in a light sweat
09:25i wasn't sure if it was from the heat in the room
09:28or my own anxiety
09:29three years in that place had taught me one thing
09:32never let your guard down
09:34not even at a dinner table
09:37after dinner i returned to gromper's old house
09:40thank you for the ride
09:41i gave roderick a small bow
09:44maggie had wanted me to stay the night
09:46but i'd turned her down
09:48i didn't want any more contact with them than i had to
09:51so i'd asked roderick to drive me home
09:53you really want to stay here
09:55roderick frowned
09:56i glanced back at the house
09:59it hadn't been touched in three years
10:01now it was completely overgrown with weeds
10:04but i nodded
10:06i had nowhere else to go anyway
10:08i was flat broke
10:10and the clothes i was wearing were from three years ago
10:13the rehab center had given us uniforms
10:15so these clothes had never even been worn out
10:18i bent down to pull some weeds
10:20the little critters living there scurried away
10:23i saw cockroaches
10:24mice
10:25and a snake
10:26coiled in the corner
10:27too lazy to move
10:28once upon a time
10:30i would have jumped straight into roderick's arms
10:33now i just stared at them calmly
10:35and looked for a stick to shoo the snake away
10:39roderick pulled me back toward the car
10:45what's wrong
10:45i didn't even realize he was still there
10:47didn't you see that snake
10:50oh right
10:51i'd forgotten roderick hated reptiles
10:55i saw it
10:56it's fine
10:57i'll just shoo it away with a stick
11:00if it bothers you you can just leave
11:02i caught myself reassuring him
11:04i reached for the door handle
11:06ready to hop out
11:07but roderick locked the doors and drove off
11:11i quickly buckled my seat belt
11:19where are you taking me
11:21he didn't say a word
11:22i didn't dare ask again
11:23he took me to his private apartment
11:25he closed the door behind us without a word
11:28i couldn't leave it was a keypad lock
11:30he went straight to the shower
11:32probably trying to wash off the creeps
11:34from seeing all those critters
11:36i sat straight on the living room couch
11:39about an hour later
11:40roderick came downstairs in pajamas
11:42his hair still wet
11:43i knew better than to stare
11:45stay here until your place is cleaned up
11:47you can sleep here tonight
11:48i thought about it for a second
11:50then nodded
11:52thank you
11:53that house was a mess
11:54tackling it all alone
11:56would have kept me going way past midnight
11:59he walked over
12:01i stood up and stepped aside without thinking
12:04roderick grabbed my chin
12:05forcing me to look at him
12:07so you're over me
12:08his expression was questioning
12:10yes
12:11i didn't hesitate for a second
12:13any delay would have felt like an insult
12:16to everything i'd been through
12:17that night
12:18the nightmare returned
12:20in my dream
12:21countless eyes stared back at me
12:25filled with hatred
12:26disgust
12:27and contempt
12:28every single one of them
12:30belonged to roderick
12:32the next day
12:33when roderick left for work
12:34i asked him to drop me off downtown
12:39he didn't seem to mind
12:41as long as i wasn't in his way
12:44i hesitated in front of a florist
12:46is hiring sign
12:48i didn't have a college degree
12:51i never finished college
12:53because roderick had me sent
12:54to that rehab center
12:56hunting for a job
12:57the shop owner seen me staring at the sign
12:59but not coming in
13:00so he finally asked
13:01i nodded
13:02the owner looked to be in his mid-20s
13:04and he seemed pretty nice
13:06the pay was three thousand dollars monthly
13:08and no diploma was required
13:09i just had to be on time to help out at the shop every day
13:12i asked the owner for a one thousand dollars advance
13:16money makes the world go round
13:17i needed it for everything
13:20my official start date was the next day
13:23and to my surprise
13:24he trusted me
13:26i spent four hundred dollars on a used electric scooter from a local shop
13:31once upon a time four hundred dollars would have meant squat to me
13:35now i had to haggle just to get it for that price
13:38it's not like i was an orphan or anything
13:40three years ago
13:42my parents disowned me
13:43to protect the company and the family's reputation
13:45the only person who'd ever really loved me
13:48grandpa was gone a long time ago
13:50if he were still here
13:52i probably never would have ended up like this
13:56i rode the scooter back to grandpa's old house
13:59the weeds outside were already gone
14:02roderick must have sent someone to clear them
14:04inside
14:05everything was covered in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs
14:09it took me for hours just to make the place halfway livable
14:12most of the stuff inside was broken beyond fixing
14:16i was trying to carry out the junk when i tripped
14:19everything went flying all over the floor
14:22i was a mess my knee hurt
14:23and i was covered in dirt
14:26i saw a pair of shiny leather shoes stop in front of me
14:29i didn't even have to look up to know who they belonged to
14:33i got up slowly
14:34my knee throbbing with pain
14:39mr dunlap
14:41can i help you with something
14:42i'd gone from calling him rod
14:44to roderick
14:45and now to mr dunlap
14:47it was better this way keeping my distance
14:49i never wanted to go back to that hellhole ever again
14:52grandma sent me to check on how you're doing
14:54roderick's brow was furrowed
14:56please tell her i'm fine and she doesn't have to worry about me
15:00i crouched back down to clean up the mess
15:03that fall had just made everything worse
15:08roderick grabbed me by the back of my collar
15:10with a tear my shirt split right open
15:13it was the same shirt i'd worn yesterday
15:15and the same one i'd had three years ago
15:17the fabric was so thin it tore almost instantly
15:20my voice was sharp with anger as i clutched the torn fabric
15:24mr dunlap
15:25have some respect
15:28thank god it was only the back that tore
15:31but it was my only shirt
15:32i hadn't had time to buy new clothes
15:35and now how was i supposed to go shopping
15:38but his eyes were fixed on the scars on my back
15:41what the hell happened here
15:43i misbehaved
15:45they punished me for it
15:46my voice was flat
15:47like i was talking about someone else's pain
15:51you deserved it
15:52he walked out
15:54i glanced over my shoulder
15:55my back was covered in scars old and new
15:58all from whippings
16:00the newest ones were probably from a few days ago
16:02i couldn't even remember exactly which day
16:05they hadn't even fully healed yet
16:10i found a dusty shirt in the closet
16:12shook it off
16:13and slipped it on right away
16:15pretty soon
16:16i felt an itch on my back
16:17right over the wounds
16:18they probably got infected
16:20of course
16:21just as i was heading out to buy new clothes
16:24roderick came back
16:25was he back to laugh at me
16:27he tossed a bag at me
16:28change into these
16:31i refused
16:33he had a girlfriend
16:34and it felt wrong for him to be buying me clothes
16:37but it had been three years
16:39maybe
16:40chelsea was his wife now
16:42not that i cared
16:43roderick pulled me roughly back inside the house
16:48i sat down and did what he told me
16:54he cleaned the wounds on my back with antiseptic and rubbing alcohol
16:57it stung
16:58but i didn't make a sound
17:00it was nothing next to what i'd been through
17:03his hands were rough but strangely careful
17:06like he was trying to undo something he couldn't name
17:12roderick finished cleaning the wounds on my back
17:15he helped pull my shirt down
17:17his fingers brushed my skin
17:19i flinched and stepped back
17:22roderick pointed at the scar across my waist
17:26why's this one
17:27this one was different from the others
17:28deeper
17:29jagged
17:30like someone had cut me open
17:31this position
17:33is this your kidney
17:35he frowned
17:37what happened to your kidney
17:39my hand moved to cover the scar
17:43i don't know
17:44he stared at me
17:48you don't know what happened to your own kidney
17:50his voice was flat
17:52like he'd caught me in a lie
17:54i woke up one morning and the scar was there
17:59that's all i know
18:00roderick looked at me for a long moment
18:04then he let out a short breath
18:07why did they do this to you
18:10because i misbehaved
18:13but i'm good now
18:14what did you do
18:17one of the counselors caught me after i dropped food on the table
18:21roderick frowned
18:22he studied my face
18:23trying to decide if i was telling the truth
18:25elsewhere
18:26where else did they hurt you
18:27i shook my head
18:29i curled up when they hit me
18:30my back was the only part they could reach
18:33it's getting late
18:35you should go now
18:37i needed him out of this house
18:41i'll crash here for the
18:42no
18:44the word came out before i could stop it
18:49roderick turned and stared at me
18:51he looked like he couldn't believe what i just said
18:55you can't stay here
18:56my voice was shaking
18:57my whole body was shaking
18:59he took a step toward my bedroom
19:01i moved between him and the door
19:04i didn't think
19:05my body just did it
19:09move
19:10no
19:12he reached for my arm
19:13i yanked it back so hard i hit the wall
19:16my chest was heaving
19:17my hands came up
19:19then i realized what i was doing
19:21at the center
19:22if you raised your hands
19:24they beat you harder
19:25they said you were resisting
19:27roderick stopped walking
19:29he stared at my shaking hands
19:31at the way i was pressed against the wall
19:35marie
19:36calm down
19:37i bolted
19:38i ran into grandpa's room and locked the door
19:42pressed my back against it
19:43listened
19:46no footsteps
19:49i slid down to the floor
19:50my legs still wouldn't stop shaking
19:55late that night
19:56i woke up in grandpa's bed
19:58my leg was throbbing
20:00the knee i'd scraped when i tripped over the junk was swollen and hot
20:04then the pain moved up my back
20:06every wound roderick had cleaned was burning
20:09i touched my forehead
20:10my skin was on fire
20:12i tried to stand
20:13my legs folded and i hit the floor
20:15the dust made me cough
20:17at the center
20:18if you got sick
20:19you stayed on the floor
20:20no one came
20:20the staff said sick people were just looking for attention
20:23i didn't call for help
20:25i lay there until the room started spinning
20:27until i couldn't tell if my eyes were open or closed
20:30a shadow moved toward me
20:32then
20:32then it covered me
20:33when i opened my eyes again
20:35the ceiling was white
20:36and the air stink of bleach
20:38an iv was taped to my arm
20:39i was in a hospital
20:40i didn't know how i got here
20:42i pulled the iv out
20:43blood ran down my wrist
20:45i reached for my shoes
20:47roderick was slumped in a chair next to my bed
20:49his eyes red
20:50where are you off to
20:53i got a job
20:54i start today
20:55do you even know you're running a fever
20:57he sounded more tired than angry
20:59don't worry mr dunlop
21:00i'll pay you back for the medical bills
21:02as soon as i get my first paycheck
21:04i slipped out before he could say anything else
21:07i got on my scooter
21:08and made it to the flower shop just in time
21:10the front window was covered in red hearts
21:12a sign read
21:13valentine's day special
21:14the flower shop was packed
21:16i worked the register
21:17then chelsea harvey walked in
21:23chelsea was arm in arm with roderick laughing
21:25i froze
21:26chel's rod
21:27the owner walked over and shook roderick dunlop's hand
21:31the owner was clifford harvey
21:32chelsea harvey's brother
21:34i had been working for her brother
21:36chelsea spotted me
21:37her eyes went wide
21:39she flinched
21:40and harried her face in roderick's chest
21:42cliffy what is she doing here
21:44she's the one who pushed me down the stairs
21:46she pointed a shaking finger at me
21:48her voice trembling
21:49clifford stared at me
21:51his face twisted with disgust
21:53he grabbed my arm and shoved me out the door
21:57i hit the ground
21:59roderick stood in the doorway and watched
22:01he didn't move
22:03i pushed myself up
22:04looked at him
22:05i looked embarrassed
22:07maybe he couldn't stand it any longer
22:10he threw me some money and turned away
22:12i didn't want to lose this job
22:15fortunately a restaurant hired me as a dushmer
22:19a few days later
22:21chelsea came to that restaurant
22:22she found me
22:23then she made sure i saw her every time when she came
22:26i stayed in the back and scrubbed harder
22:29i thought if i kept my head down she would leave me alone
22:32but chelsea wasn't done with me yet
22:36i was carrying clean plates out to the dining area
22:39well look who it is
22:41the crawford group harris
22:42oh wait just a pathetic little shadow nobody wants around
22:45a few girls blocked my way
22:46my old college classmates
22:48chelsea stood behind them watching
22:50no innocent act this time
22:52i tried to walk past them
22:54did i say you could leave
22:56one of them grabbed my hair and yanked hard
22:58the plates crashed to the floor
23:01the whole restaurant went quiet
23:02all i could think about was how much those plates would cost me
23:06what's going on here
23:07roderick's voice
23:08he was standing behind me
23:10before i could say anything
23:11chelsea spoke up
23:13her voice soft and shaking
23:15rod
23:15we were just trying to make up with atmari
23:18catch up a little
23:19but then she lost her temper
23:21and tried to hit me with a plate
23:26the manager rushed over and stared at the broken plates
23:33are you out of your mind
23:35i opened my mouth
23:37don't
23:38just
23:38don't
23:40he pointed at the door
23:41get out of my restaurant
23:43now
23:46chelsea's friend smirked behind him
23:48one of them gave me a little wave
23:51chelsea was still tucked against roderick's chest
23:55her shoulders shaking
23:57the perfect victim
23:59i waited for roderick to say something
24:02he didn't
24:05he only cared about comforting chelsea
24:07he didn't even look at me
24:11i reached into my pocket
24:12and pulled out my cash
24:15handed it to the manager
24:18it left me with ten dollars
24:21i walked past
24:22at roderick on my way out
24:26outside
24:26the cold air hit my face
24:30ten dollars
24:33i could buy the cheapest bottle of sleeping pills
24:37i went to a pharmacy
24:39and took the pills at home
24:41small
24:42white
24:44like chalk
24:46in my palm
24:50i swallowed them one at a time
24:54i lost track of time
24:56right as my eyes closed for good
24:58i thought i saw it roderick standing in the doorway
25:03when is she going to wake up
25:05she's been asleep for days
25:06when i came to
25:08it seemed i heard roderick's voice
25:11why was he still clinging to me
25:14even after death
25:15it wasn't till a team of doctors began
25:18examining me
25:20that i understood
25:21roderick had rushed me here
25:23to have my stomach pumped
25:25i'd been given a second chance
25:29that figure i saw
25:31hadn't been an illusion
25:33it was him
25:35are you sending me back
25:38i looked at his darked expression
25:42the doctor says
25:43you may be suffering from depression
25:49roderick avoided my question
25:52i nodded
25:54but that wasn't the point
25:57all i cared about
25:58was whether i had to be sent back
26:04why didn't you tell me
26:08would you have believed me if i had
26:12telling him would only have made him think
26:15i was making excuses to leave that place
26:20i had reached out to him
26:22each resident was granted
26:24a scheduled call to family
26:26twice a year
26:27during my first six months
26:30i called him once
26:32i'm sick
26:33i cough up blood sometimes
26:37and they hit us
26:40can i please come home
26:44i promise i won't bother you anymore
26:46what did he say back then
26:49find a better excuse next time
26:56then he hung up
27:00after that that call
27:02i was beaten again
27:03i never called him after that
27:10why did i cough up blood
27:12their blows had landed on my back
27:15over and over
27:17the internal damage eventually
27:19affected my stomach and lungs
27:22seeing odrick fall silence
27:25i knew he still didn't believe me
27:30i lowered my head
27:32and didn't ask again
27:34whether he'd send me back
27:36should i be sent back
27:37i won't leave alive
27:40in a place like that
27:41no one would notice
27:43whether a person was breathing
27:45i thought once i got out
27:47i could start over
27:48but i was wrong
27:50my peace was always shattered
27:53whenever roderick came into the picture
27:58the doctor called roderick out
28:01saying some test results were ready
28:04the door swung open as roderick stowed back in
28:08he yanked the blanket aside
28:11then my hospital gown
28:14an ugly
28:15jagged scar was exposed
28:17his eyes were bloodshot
28:20a vein throbbing on his forehead
28:22as he stared at me
28:24your kidney
28:26your kidney
28:27where is it
28:28he looked terrifying
28:31just like the staff at the center
28:34they had that
28:35same look in their eyes
28:38that look always came
28:40right before a beating
28:41i pulled the blanket up
28:43and hid underneath it
28:44the bed shifted
28:46as at roderick sat down beside me
28:48he gently tugged at the covers
28:50mary come out
28:52you'll suffocate
28:53his voice softened
28:55as if he'd realized he'd scared me
28:57promise you won't hit me
29:00my voice was muffled under the blanket
29:02only after he promised
29:06did i poke my head
29:09he asked again
29:11patient this time
29:13what happened to your kidney
29:16i shook my head
29:18i don't know
29:20roderick took out his phone
29:22and said he would investigate this thoroughly
29:26ever since learning about my depression
29:27roderick had barely left my side
29:29it was as if he was afraid
29:31i might try something again
29:32but i saw that the rehab center
29:34had been shut down on television
29:35no doubt it was roderick's doing
29:37it had posed as an educational institution
29:39behind closed doors
29:40it ran vile operations
29:45did he do this to you too
29:46roderick pointed at the screen
29:47the man being interviewed
29:49was the infamous director
29:50he spoke excitedly to the reporter
29:52i was helping them
29:53they should be thankful
29:55without my guidance
29:57do you think they'd be so compliant now
29:59go ask their parents
30:00their children are model citizens now
30:03aren't they
30:04i took a kidney laughs
30:06as my fair compensation
30:09my method was simple
30:14add something to their bedtime milk
30:17then proceed with the removal
30:19i'd watch them wake up
30:21in agony
30:24the man grew more animated as he spoke
30:27i felt a wave of dread seep into my bones
30:29the bloody scene felt like it had happened yesterday
30:31that night i went to bed as usual
30:33before lights out
30:34we all had to drink the milk the attendants brought
30:39refusal meant a beating
30:47in my sleep
30:47in my sleep i felt like i was being restrained
30:50then slowly a sharp pain pierced my side
30:54my eyes flew open to see the director's horrifying face leaning over me
30:58it wasn't a dream
30:59he was staring intently at my waist
31:01the pain made me black out
31:03i didn't wake until the next day
31:10he threatened me
31:11if i ever spoke a word
31:12my other kidney would meet the same fate
31:14no wonder so many people there moved stiffly
31:16and no one ever said a thing
31:24roderick called me
31:25roderick called me
31:26i stared at him
31:26my gaze empty
31:27then a mouthful of blood surged up and spilled over
31:30i collapsed
31:33i had no idea how long i was out
31:35when i woke up i was still connected to a ventilator
31:37i shifted my fingers trying to wake roderick
31:40his weight was resting on my hand
31:41and it had gone numb
31:44you're awake
31:45how do you feel
31:47you were in shock did you realize
31:49but i was in shock
31:51how would i know
31:51but was this really roderick
31:53his jaw was shadowed with stubble
31:54his eyes streaked with red
31:56this wasn't the same cool collected man i remembered
31:58i tried to speak but had no strength left
32:01i just lay still
32:02let the doctors and roderick do what they needed to do
32:05i learned i'd been unconscious for four days
32:07roderick had stayed by my side the whole time
32:11that afternoon a doctor removed the ventilator
32:14i could talk again
32:16what's the prognosis
32:17weeks months
32:18i knew my time was running out
32:20roderick's hand
32:22which had been holding a spoon to feed me broth
32:24paused
32:24after a long moment
32:27six months
32:28maybe less
32:29a faint smile of relief touched my lips
32:33good
32:33i could get to see grandpa soon
32:36lung cancer
32:37i phrased it as a question
32:39but i was sure
32:40even after i'd learned to behave
32:41and the beatings mostly stopped
32:43i kept coughing up blood
32:44the depression only made things worse
32:48roderick nodded
32:49can i get back to work
32:51is there any way you could keep your wife from interfering
32:54if they'd just leave me alone
32:56i could work in peace
32:57i still owed clifford one thousand dollars after all
33:02she's not my wife
33:05roderick frowned
33:06putting a clear distance between himself and chelsea
33:09i didn't care what chelsea was
33:11i just needed her to stay away
33:14i started a small street stall on a decent block
33:17selling burritos
33:18i had planned to find a regular job
33:20but roderick forbade it
33:22when he set his mind to something
33:23no one could change it
33:24he offered me two options
33:26start my own small business or stay home
33:28doing something i chose
33:30with the time i had left
33:31was a good idea
33:32i stood nervously behind my cart
33:34worried no customers would come
33:36the location was close to campus
33:38steady foot traffic from students and professionals
33:40it was a fully licensed area for street vendors to operate
33:44best of all it was close to grandpa's house
33:48hey how much for a burrito
33:49i was lost in thought when a guy with a bright
33:51easy smile walked up to my stall
33:53i looked up and met his clear eyes
33:56he had faint dimples
33:57wearing a basketball jersey
33:59a ball in his hand as if he'd just come from a game
34:01i was caught off guard for a second
34:03he spoke again before i came out of my trance
34:06for some reason looking into his eyes didn't make me uneasy at all
34:09usually any eye contact filled me with dread
34:12so many pairs of eyes haunted my nights
34:17would you like to try one it's free
34:21why free is it because i'm so good looking
34:24he grinned and rubbed his chin playfully
34:27his playful tone made my face grow warm
34:31no it's my first day
34:33if it turns out unpasteable
34:36i couldn't possibly take your money
34:39i'd practiced at home over and over
34:41but doing it for real felt completely different
34:46oh so i'm your gimme pig
34:49no i thought i'd scared him off
34:56just kidding go ahead i'll eat it however it turns out
34:59he laughed warmly
35:00most vendors could make one in three to five minutes
35:03my clumsy attempt took nearly seven
35:05the outside was crispy
35:07though not burnt
35:11maybe i should make you another one
35:13this is perfect
35:14he took the wrapped burrito and bit into it
35:20it's great
35:22seriously this is how it should be
35:23nice and crispy
35:25his compliment made me smile
35:32so how much
35:34you're not going to charge me an arm and a leg are you
35:36he widened his eyes in alarm
35:40no this one's complimentary
35:42a lucky start for my first day
35:45as he turned to leave
35:47he glanced back and waved
35:50i'm leonard williams by the way
35:52i watched him walk away
35:54it struck me then how distant my own college days felt
35:58if i hadn't been so reckless back then
36:01i would have graduated a year ago
36:07as the day went on more customers came
36:11i was almost too busy to keep up
36:14but i got quicker and more confident with each one
36:17i didn't pack up until i'd run out of ingredients
36:25roderick pulled up beside me in his car
36:30i'll drive you home
36:31it's fine
36:32i have my scooter
36:33i nodded toward my scooter
36:35parked nearby
36:37it's getting chilly tonight
36:39you'll catch a cold
36:42i won't die from it
36:47marian
36:48how long are you going to keep fighting me on everything
36:50roderick caught my wrist as i started to walk away
36:56mr dunlap do not forget
36:57i was the one who pushed your girlfriend down the stairs
37:02i'm the one to blame
37:03in that moment
37:04to cut any last tie between us
37:07i claimed the guilt
37:09mary stop lying
37:12i know the truth now
37:15she fell on her own
37:19suddenly his arms came around me from behind
37:26my body stiffened in his hold
37:28so he knew
37:30hadn't he told me to protect chelsea
37:35so you were protecting her
37:37while i bore all the blame
37:39no
37:41i was afraid once you knew the truth
37:44you'd hate me for not believing you sooner
37:46i was wrong
37:49i'm sorry
37:53his arms tightened around me
37:59i only found out two days ago
38:01i went to tell chelsea to stay away from you
38:03and we argued
38:07she let it slip
38:10i could no longer hold back my tears
38:16they fell onto the back of his hand
38:18at least i would clear my name before i died
38:22he released me
38:23bending down to wipe my tears
38:26don't cry mari
38:31i sobbed uncontrollably in his arms
38:35for a moment
38:36neither of us spoke
38:41three years of silence
38:43three years of pain i'd swallowed without a word
38:47and now
38:48finally
38:48finally
38:49someone believed me
38:59rod
39:01here
39:02i pointed to my chest
39:06it doesn't beat for you anymore
39:11rod if i could i'd wish we had never met
39:15i wiped my tears and gave a faint smile
39:21this is the last time i'll call you that
39:24from now on
39:25let's each live our own lives
39:31i'd treat this as a goodbye
39:33a proper end to those eight years i spent loving him
39:37i could never forget the three years in that place
39:41and the person who'd sent me there
39:43was himself
39:48marie
39:50he reached for me
39:51but i stepped back
39:55mr dunlop
39:56please don't disturb me again
40:01i want my remaining time to be peaceful
40:05with that
40:06i left
40:11i drove my scooter home
40:14roderick's car followed at a distance in the rearview mirror
40:20i ignored him
40:31i went to my stall as usual every day
40:35roderick watched from a distance
40:39i just ignored him
40:44hey i'm back
40:46brought my classmates to try your burritos
40:47it was leonard
40:48my first customer
40:51what kind would you like
40:53a real sense of ease washed over me
40:54something i hadn't felt in a long time
40:56whatever you recommend
41:02maybe one of each
41:04i'll take some back for my roommates too
41:08so how much
41:09you didn't let me pay last time
41:10you've got to charge me today
41:12or i won't come back
41:13i hadn't said i wouldn't charge him
41:14i still needed to pay back my debt
41:15six dollars each
41:17cash only though
41:19if you don't have any
41:20you can get change at the store down the block
41:22i pointed to the sign on my cart
41:23and then toward the store down the block
41:27wait right here i'll be back
41:30i watched leonard walk away inside
41:33the young seemed so full of life
41:36it was easy to forget i was only a year older than him
41:41yet my life felt worlds apart
41:46hey isn't he good looking
41:48and he's single
41:49maybe give him a shot
41:50his classmates clearly thought my glance at leonard meant more than it did
41:54i shook my head and stayed silent
41:57i was making around three to four hundred dollars a day
42:01soon
42:02i had enough to repay my debt
42:07clifford seemed to have been waiting for me
42:09he looked different guilty
42:11almost
42:13i heard what really happened
42:15chelsea admitted the truth to roderick
42:19i'm sorry for what i did to you
42:21i didn't reply
42:24i placed the money on the counter and left
42:29finally i was free of that burden
42:36why did leonard keep coming to my stall
42:39did he really love burritos that much
42:43do you really like burritos that much
42:45i finally asked
42:47no
42:48why
42:48taking another bite
42:51why do you come every day
42:52were you short on money for meals
42:55but he didn't look like he was struggling
42:59because you're here
43:04between bites
43:05i didn't fully process his words
43:07not until he swallowed
43:09leaned closer
43:10and looked at me seriously
43:12be my girlfriend
43:16i froze for a second
43:17then shook my head
43:19i took his hand and placed it on my waist
43:22i'm missing a kidney here
43:24then i pointed to my chest
43:27i have lung cancer here
43:29he shrugged
43:30unfazed
43:31i know
43:34i've always known
43:36how could he know
43:37reading my surprise
43:38i'll tell you later
43:40his hand lingered gently on my waist
43:43did it hurt
43:45my eyes stung
43:47no one had ever asked me that before
43:50not roderick
43:51not my parents
43:52not a single person in three years
43:55but this young man did
43:57six months later
43:58i held the medical report the doctor had just given me
44:01he said the cancer cells were gradually receding
44:05leonard had made sure i ate three meals a day
44:07he walked me to every checkup
44:09for the first time in years
44:11i wanted to live and it showed
44:13with a positive mindset
44:15consistent medication
44:16and no late night depressive episodes
44:19full recovery was possible
44:21there were cases of people beating cancer
44:23it just wasn't easy
44:24but i had managed it
44:33hey where are you
44:34you're not at your stall today
44:35my phone buzzed with a message from leonard
44:37at the hospital
44:39he'd bought me this phone himself
44:40he'd claimed it was a buy one get one deal
44:44who believed that
44:45i certainly didn't
44:48half an hour later
44:49leonard came jogging toward me in his basketball jersey
44:55what did the doctor say
44:57i put on a somber face
44:59pretending to be downcast
45:00i saw his expression dim
45:03but he kept his voice steady
45:04it's okay
45:06i'll be with you every step of the way
45:08i cut him off
45:11just kidding
45:12the doctor says i'm doing really well
45:14you've gotten mean
45:16i couldn't bear to tease him for long
45:18he pretended to be upset
45:20but then he picked me up
45:22and spun me around twice
45:24so
45:24does this mean you'll say yes
45:27he looked at me eagerly
45:29say yes to what
45:31i blinked at him playfully
45:34be my girlfriend
45:36but i'm not completely healed yet
45:38what if it comes back
45:40i don't care
45:43my job is to love you
45:45and make you happy
45:47if you're happy
45:47you'll get better
45:50he hugged me tightly
45:52nuzzling against me
45:55i wrapped my arms around him in return
45:58all right i suppose i'll say yes
46:00i sounded as if i was doing him a favor
46:04the truth was
46:05he had been the one settling for me all along
46:11as leonard and i walked away hand in hand
46:13i saw roderick
46:15he stood watching us
46:17his eyes red
46:19i hadn't seen him in two or three months
46:21the last time i saw him was when maggie passed away
46:25he'd picked me up to attend the service
46:27and that was it
46:29i'd also repaid him for all the medical bills
46:33even the money for the food cart
46:35i knew he'd been watching me from a distance
46:39he'd tried to approach me a few times
46:41but i'd threatened to harm myself each time
46:44and he'd finally stayed away
46:47marie who is this
46:48his eyes were still red
46:50he already knew the answer
46:53my girlfriend
46:55leonard answered first
46:57raising our joined hands
47:02is he good to you
47:05yes
47:07i know what it looks like when you love someone at marie
47:10and i can see it's not me anymore
47:15it took me a while to face it
47:19be happy
47:21i wish you the same
47:24he turned and walked away
47:27i didn't look back
47:29some people are meant to be part of your story but not your ending
47:36i heard later that roderick left to teach in a remote mountain
47:40as for me
47:41i was curled on the sofa
47:43looking at the man in front of me
47:45you said before that you knew about my health
47:47how
47:50i sprained my ankle during a game and ended up in the hospital
47:55i was in the room next to yours
47:57i overheard something while walking by
47:59got curious
48:00and looked through the glass
48:03one look and i just knew
48:07he made it sound so casual
48:12that's it
48:15i didn't buy it
48:18your classmates mentioned something
48:22my photo is your computer wallpaper
48:24the one from when i was a sophomore
48:27i meant the guys who had stopped by my stall for burritos
48:31sure enough
48:32the man looked briefly embarrassed
48:34he was probably cursing them in his head
48:38okay fine
48:42i was an exchange student at your university in my freshman year
48:45doing a photography project
48:48you were there that day
48:49so full of life
48:52i couldn't help but
48:54take a picture
48:56later
48:57i heard you were with roderick
48:58so i kept my distance
49:00i don't do home wrecking
49:03he lifted his chin slightly
49:06it wasn't until i saw you in the hospital
49:09that i realized how stupid i'd been all along
49:15if i had stepped in back then
49:18maybe none of this would have happened to you
49:21after that
49:23i kept an eye on you
49:27waiting until the day
49:29i ran into you
49:31at your stall
49:33he looked genuinely regortful
49:37i reached out and hugged him
49:39don't blame yourself
49:41some things were meant to happen
49:43it wasn't your fault
49:45i'd almost missed the chance to be with someone so wonderful
49:48but in the end
49:49nothing was too late
49:52other people go to rehab for drugs
49:55alcohol
49:55or gambling
49:58i went to quit loving a man
50:01in the end
50:02i didn't just quit him
50:05i learned to love myself again
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