I Won't Settle for Less Anymore

Just now, as I watched Ethan criticize me impatiently while smiling down at a text from Victoria, something inside me went cold.

Suddenly, none of it felt worth it anymore.

I didn't feel an urge to apologize. I just sat there in stony silence.

Ethan waited for a moment. When it became clear that I wasn't going to admit fault, he clicked his tongue in annoyance, grabbed his phone, and walked out of the hospital cafeteria.

I sat alone, staring blankly at my laptop screen. I had no idea how long I'd been frozen there when my phone buzzed. I'd received a voice message.

After some hesitation, I tapped to play it.

Victoria's sweet voice filled my ears. "Ethan, is Leah mad because of my mistake? Why don't you call her and ask her to come over? I'll apologize to her in person."

Ethan's impatient voice cut in. "No need! Let her sulk if she wants to. I'm not her babysitter. I don't have to keep coddling her."

"Oh, Ethan, don't say that. Women need to be coddled. If you talk like that, you'll just push Leah farther away."

Victoria sounded gentle and thoughtful, like some understanding little angel.

Ethan snorted. "I don't have time to coddle her. She can be mad if she wants. Honestly, if she hadn't helped me with that impossible case analysis back then, I wouldn't even be dating a broke student like her. She's so sensitive and cries over everything. I've been done with it for years."

At that moment, it felt like someone had ripped my heart out.

It hurt.

It really hurt.

"Seriously, Leah's just way too fragile. I've never met someone so emotional."

That was Mark's voice.

"Tell me about it. Every time I threaten to break up, she cries and apologizes first. I'm tired of it! Honestly, she'd be doing me a favor by ignoring me. That way, I can finally be rid of her for good."

Mark laughed. "Be rid of Leah? No way. She's so clingy. I bet if you don't go back tonight, she'll be crying and apologizing at your door tomorrow."

"Alright! Let's make a bet. The loser buys dinner!"

The recording ended.

I sat in the corner of the cafeteria, gripping my phone so hard that my nails dug into my palm, but I barely felt it.

So that was how Ethan saw me. For four years, he'd thought of me as a burden. Everything he'd ever done for me was just because I'd helped him out once.

Finally, the dam broke. Tears streamed down my face. I covered my mouth, trying not to make a sound.

I thought to myself, "Leah Hayes, you're really pathetic."