My words seemed to remind Benjamin of his promise. He fell silent for a brief moment.
He wanted to say something when Hector snatched the phone from him. “Stop being so pathetic, Samantha! Do you think everyone loves competing with other women as you do? You’d better stop trying to cause trouble.
“Can you bear the consequences of keeping Benjamin and the others from their work? Stop doing stupid things and expecting others to clean up after you!”
He hung up after that. Jennifer leaned into Benjamin’s embrace and rubbed Hector’s head affectionately. She said dotingly, “Alright, that’s enough. You guys know what Samantha is like, so don’t be mad. Today’s the most important day of my life. Be happy for me.”
That was enough to appease Hector. Then, everyone proceeded to the room where Benjamin and Jennifer would spend their wedding night.
The festivities were over. I was left standing alone in the darkness of the night like a clown that no one cared about.
I made an appointment for an abortion on my phone. Then, I turned to leave.
I’d spent the past 15 years trying and failing to win Benjamin’s heart. If that was the case, I didn’t want it anymore.
It was late at night when I returned to the nearest town. I got a room at a hotel and drifted off into a restless sleep. In the wee hours of the morning, I was jolted awake by the ringing of my phone.
My superior at the TV station sounded anxious yet excited. “I heard a 5.3-degree earthquake happened at the old settlement near your location. You need to head there immediately to get the latest scoop!”
He hung up without waiting for me to respond. I found the situation mocking. If I’d known this would happen, I never would’ve come.
Still, I got out of bed, feeling resigned. When I unlocked my phone to check the latest news, I saw Jennifer had updated her social media with a photo. It showed her hand in Benjamin’s, and they wore matching rings.
I looked at the faint scar on the back of Benjamin’s hand. My heart was dead, but it still ached at the sight of that scar. He’d gotten it after being stabbed by a broken beer bottle when trying to protect me from my abusive father when I was 18.
I’d always believed it was proof of him caring about me, but everything had turned out to just be a figment of my imagination. The remnants of my love for him dissipated when I saw the photo.
