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