Seven Heartbeats to Forever

Foolish Choice

We spent five years together. No matter how hard life got, I never complained. I always stayed by her side. She knew how deep my love for her ran, and she never believed I'd leave her.

I knew she loved me deeply as well. She loved me so much, she'd never let me sacrifice myself just to save her. There was only one path left for me. I had to swallow my pain and pretend that I'd had enough.

I had to pretend I'd had enough of living a miserable life with her. I had to act like I hated living with her, where hope was nowhere to be found. I had to pretend that I had enough of one meal a day, cheap medicine, and a rough life.

I told her I had had enough of thinking too much just to buy a simple thing.

And that day was torturous. Even now, I could still see it in my mind. The girl who was always so headstrong and fearless shed tears for the first time as she signed the papers.

I signed the organ donation papers at the same time as well. After the surgery, I left her, and the world called me all kinds of names over it. I returned to the rental. The place where we spent five years together.

This was where I would wait until death took me into its arms.

It was surprising that I would see Jessica again. Now, she was getting further and further away from me. She became the kind of woman she said she would. I could never go back to those days.

I watched her. The woman the news wouldn't stop talking about. My heart broke, yet I felt proud.

And then my phone rang. That was it for memory lane. I picked up the phone, and the banker told me the 30 grand was a wrong transfer. I needed to give the money back, or I'd be sued.

I hung up and smiled bitterly. There was nothing I could say. A moment of silence later, I called my buddy and asked him to get me a job so I could clear my debt.

Jessica hated my guts. If she knew a gold-digger like me had to pay her back in instalments, she'd accept it happily. She would watch me work myself to the bone to pay her off.

Thanks to my heart, I had no strength at all, and most jobs were closed to me. All I could work on were odd jobs, and they were barely enough to keep me alive.

Christian Chandler, my buddy, knew that my health was a mess. He got me a waiting job at a banquet hall. Easy job. I could make 75 dollars a day.

I changed into my uniform and put on my mask, then it was time to work. As I served the guests drinks, I ran into Jessica again.

She was in an expensive gown and looked like the perfect picture of elegance. Christopher was in a crisp suit and looked sharp. They were hand in hand, the epitome of a perfect couple. Everyone couldn't get enough of them.

I only had a glance, and I hung my head low. The tray was up, and Jessica did not recognize me. As I turned, Christopher said, "Hey, do your job properly, waiter. You just splashed wine all over my suit!"

I stopped in my tracks and checked his clothes. There was only a patch on the suit's corner. Instead of saying anything, I kept my head low and wiped the patch away.

Jessica was looking at me, a frown creasing her forehead. Her lips were nothing but a fine line now.

Evil spread in Christopher's eyes. He slammed his foot into my chest. Pain pierced every inch of my body. I crumpled to the ground and gasped in agony.

"Take your filthy hands off me! Security, get him out of here!"

Though there was fury on his face, the smug smile on his lips betrayed his cruel delight. Even though I had only exposed my eyes, when I met Jessica, she recognized me.

Her lips trembled, and a hint of pain flickered in her eyes. She was feeling for me, but only for a moment. Then, it was replaced by derision. She raised her hand and stopped the guards, then she pulled my mask off. "You should be saying hi to your ex-wife, Jonathan."