- 8.
I hit the ground hard, a torrent of blood
gushing from my mouth.
I thought I’d finally escaped.
But I woke up in a hospital.
Elijah clutched my hand, his voice trembling
with panic.
“Why did you jump?”
<
“Promise me you won’t do it again.”
I stared at him, feeling nothing.
I pushed him away, my voice cold.
“Don’t touch me.”
Then, I asked the system, “System, what
happened? Why didn’t I leave?”
“Sorry, host. You weren’t quite dead, so you
couldn’t leave. Try to kill yourself again.”
“Fine.”
I saw a scalpel nearby and reached for it.
Elijah grabbed my hand.
His eyes were red.
“Mary, what’s wrong with you?”
“Why are you so extreme?”
He was very close, his lips almost touching
my face.
I used to crave his touch.
Now, I felt nothing.
His familiar face held no interest.
I pushed him away.
”
“It’s none of your business.”
“Didn’t you like me? Why do you hate me
now?”
His tall frame seemed to slump.
His eyes were filled with pain.
“Host, Elijah’s affection meter is at one
hundred percent.”
Elijah finally loved me, completely and
irrevocably.
But I wasn’t happy.
“You said that was before. Now, I feel nothing
for you.”
I spoke softly.
“Elijah, you were annoyed by my pursuit. Isn’t
it good that I’m leaving?”
I got up, ready to jump.
He rushed over and hugged me, trembling.
“Don’t stop loving me.”
“Mary, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have pushed
you away that day.”
“Please, don’t leave me.”
His voice was filled with despair.
I couldn’t believe this.
He was the stoic spiritual leader.
He only had eyes for his first love.
And he already found a replacement.
“Get off me.”
I tried to push him away, but couldn’t.
His tears fell on my neck.
“Mary, I love you.”
“I really love you. Let’s get married.”
He wanted to marry me?
I’d begged him countless times; he’d always
refused, saying, “I’ll never marry you.”
“Elijah, I’ll never marry you.”
My words stiffened him.
He slowly let go, staring at me incredulously.
“Mary, what’s wrong with you?”
I wondered the same thing.
I loved him so much, and now I felt nothing.