4: 4
Sarah Delgado flung my hand off and strode over.
"Dorothy, what are you still doing here, harassing my son?"
She shoved me aside and checked over Merlin, tense.
"Merlin, how are you? Has the wound torn open?"
The other woman came over too, carrying a bowl of soup.
"Merlin, I made you some soup. Have a little."
Merlin ignored them both. His eyes stayed on me.
"Mom, don't do this."
"Don't do what?"
Sarah glared at me.
"If it weren't for you, would my son be lying here?"
"When people break up, they act like it. Instead you run all the way to the hospital. What are you after? A chance to watch him suffer?"
Her tirade left me a little dazed.
"Ma'am, it wasn't me—"
"Shut your mouth!"
She cut me off.
"A woman like you isn't welcome in the Delgado family."
"Back then, if I hadn't thought you were at least decent, I never would have agreed to the two of you being together."
"Clearly, I misjudged you."
The woman beside her poured on more.
"Ma'am, please don't be angry. Miss Dickerson was probably just worried about Merlin too."
She turned to me with an innocent face.
"Miss Dickerson, I know you and Merlin had something good once. But the one at his side now is me."
"So let us have this, all right?"
It struck me as absurd, watching the two of them play off each other like a duet.
I looked at Merlin, wanting to see how he'd react.
His brows were drawn tight, like he wanted to say something.
But his mother got there first.
"Did you hear me? Leave, now!"
"And don't let me see you again!"
I drew a deep breath and nodded.
"Fine."
Without a shred of reluctance, I turned around.
At the door, Merlin's voice came from behind me, weak and desperate.
"Dorothy, stop right there!"
I didn't stop.
"Mom! Why are you making her leave?"
"If I don't make her leave, do I keep her here to keep ruining you?"
"Get back here!"
There was a sob threading through Merlin's voice.
I pulled the door open and walked out.
Miles was leaning against the wall, his expression complicated.
"Dorothy, she's just too worried about Merlin. Don't take it to heart."
I didn't look at him.
"Do me a favor. Don't use his phone to call me anymore."
"He and I have nothing to do with each other now."
And with that I walked off without looking back.
Home, I threw myself down on the couch.
My head was a mess.
Merlin's pleading, his mother's insults, that woman's provocation.
All of it seemed so ridiculous.
I thought I'd already let go. So why did it still hurt?
My phone rang. It was Frank.
"You okay? Back from the hospital?"
"Yeah, I'm back."
"Is he all right?"
"He's fine."
There was silence on the other end for a moment.
"Dorothy, you don't sound good."
"How about I come over and keep you company?"
"No need. I just want to be alone for a while."
"All right. Remember to eat something."
I stared at the ceiling and hung up.
The tears fell without warning.
I wasn't crying over Merlin.
I felt it was all for nothing—two years of everything I'd given.
