The moment I finished speaking, fat tears came rolling down Sophie's face.
"Okay, okay, Melissa, don't be angry. You're the only friend I have left. I really don't want to lose you."
"I'll go pack right now. I'll move out immediately."
But instead of going into her room, she turned to face Rodney and bowed low.
"Thank you for everything you and Melissa have done for me these past years. I'll go now."
"I hope the two of you have a good life. Don't fight over me anymore—"
Before Sophie could finish, Rodney stepped forward and looked her dead in the eye, his voice leaving no room for argument.
"I'm the one who told you to move in. Without my say-so, who gave you permission to leave?"
He yanked Sophie behind him and turned to me with the look you'd give an enemy.
"This is my apartment, and nobody gets to make you go!"
"If someone has to turn this into a mess where no one gets any peace, then she's the one who leaves!"
I had come back to pack up my things anyway.
But when Rodney said that, my eyes still stung, and I could barely hold back the tears threatening to spill over.
A year ago, in this very living room, Rodney had held me and spun me around, giddy with joy.
"Melissa! We finally have a home of our own."
"We'll get married in this apartment, and from now on you'll be the lady of the house!"
Barely a year.
And now he was telling me to get out.
In that moment, I didn't want to waste another word on Rodney.
I turned and walked into the master bedroom and began packing my things.
Once everything was packed, I dragged my suitcase toward the door.
As I passed through the living room, Rodney's voice rose again.
His teeth were clenched, and the voice that came out sounded like a stranger's.
"If you set one foot out that door today, coming back later won't be so easy."
"Melissa Summers, I've already put up with more than enough from you."
My steps halted, and I turned to look at the man I had loved for six whole years.
His brow, his eyes—every feature was still so familiar, and yet he felt like a stranger, frighteningly so.
The day the eighteen-year-old boy confessed to me, his cheeks had gone red with shyness.
"Melissa, I like you. Will you give me a chance to win you over?"
"Don't worry, I'll treat you well. I'll never let you suffer."
But somewhere along the way, three people became the normal shape of our life together.
On the surface he stayed neutral, but his heart had already made its choice for him.
He'd said he would never let me suffer.
Yet every bit of suffering came from him.
Seeing me stop, Rodney visibly let out a breath.
He reached out to take the suitcase from my hand.
"See, isn't this better? Sophie and I are the people closest to you. Why did you have to blow it up like this?"
"All right, I'll put your things back. No more scenes from now on."
"Today you really were being unreasona—"
Before Rodney could finish, I stepped back, away from his outstretched hand.
"Rodney, go be the closest person to her, then."
"I won't crowd in with her."
With that, I didn't spare him another glance. I turned and walked straight out the door.
I had just reached the little courtyard when Sophie's voice came from behind me.
"Melissa, Melissa, don't go! I'm the one who should leave!"
"Wait for me, don't go!"
Sophie's voice cut off abruptly.
I turned my head just in time to see Sophie chasing out the door, and Rodney grabbing her by the arm.
"Where do you think you're going?"
