Life was very unfair to Alice. She was in her late twenties and she couldn't boast of anything. Women
who were the same age as her were ahead of her in all ramifications. Most of them were already
married and they had businesses. But she had nothing at all. Alice felt that all her struggles were in
vain. All the fights she had didn't produce any positive thing.
Instead of gaining more goodies, she just kept losing the little she had until there was nothing left. Alice
felt that it was time her miserable luck ended. She was tired of recording only failures as she journeyed
through life.
Leaving Jacob and travelling abroad was the worst decision she ever took in her life. She shouldn't
have done that. Every day Alice regretted taking that decision. She couldn't stop beating up herself for
it. This was because her departure was the reason for the miserable life she was currently living.
Everything got worse after she travelled.
When she left, she was so confident that life was going to bring her good tidings. She was optimistic
that the future was bright. Sadly, she got the direct opposite of what she hoped for. As she waited for
Jacob to come to her rescue, Alice's mind wandered to the things that happened in the past. Honestly,
she didn't want to think about it all that but she couldn't help it.
Right from when she was still a little child, Alice was always very competitive. She strived to be the best
among the best. She always wanted to have whatever her friends had.
Even if Alice didn't need that particular thing at all, she was determined to get it at all cost. There wasn't
a thing that she didn't covet for herself. This was because she never wanted to feel left out amongst
her peers. As a matter of fact, Alice preferred to destroy anything that she couldn't get than to share it
with others. She was so self-centered right from when she was little.
Once she focused on something, Alice would never let it go. If she couldn't have it then no one else
will.
This was one of her prominent traits but Jacob didn't know about it. He was oblivious to this
conspicuous attribute of his ex-girlfriend. While they were still dating, Jacob thought she was just
strong-minded and tenacious. Then he had thought her behavior was rather cute.
He never expected that this behavior of hers would bring him so much trouble in the future. Never had
he imagined that the once adorable Alice would become a thorn in his flesh. Of course, people weren't
able to predict what would happen in the future. No one could tell what tomorrow held for them. If
humans could correctly predict the future, people like Jacob would try their best possible to avoid
unreasonable troubles. They would dictate what drama came into their lives and which one didn't.
When Jacob arrived and he saw that the place was covered with darkness, memories flooded to his
mind. The place took him down memory lane to when he and Alice were still lovers.
This apartment was the first gift he ever got her. And it was the last thing she had left. Jacob was sure
of that. He knew that Alice wouldn't let go of the place because it was filled with loving memories of
them.
The place had been unoccupied for a long time and dust had already settled on the properties.
Because of the darkness, Jacob fumbled at the door for a while before he was able to locate the key.
Alice had always hidden a spare key on the door frame just in case Jacob came when she went out.
However, Jacob never expected that it would still be there. He had just tried his luck.
Feeling extremely sad and anxious, he rushed into the room to find her.
"Alice, I'm here. Where are you?" Jacob cried out in a loud voice. His nervousness was already
skyrocketing. Then he heard Alice's weak voice.
"Kitchen...I'm in the kitchen... Just by the door." Alice waved her hand in the dark. She had gone into
the kitchen in rage without switching on the light.
At that time, her mind was clouded by the anger she felt towards Jacob and she never expected that
she would trip and fall down. Because of the pain that she was feeling, she lay on the ground helplessly
for over thirty minutes. She just couldn't move her body no matter how she tried.
Alice wasn't really thinking about all that now. Her heart was jubilating by the fact that Jacob came to
her aid even though they were no longer together. She reasoned that since he had come to rescue her,
he still cared about her. Although she knew that Jacob was a kind-hearted man who never failed to
help anyone in need, it wasn't his obligation to help her.
Hearing her voice, Jacob immediately switched on the light. When the bright light illuminated the whole
room, he saw Alice lying helplessly on the floor in the pool of her own blood. The scene was terrible
and horrifying. It made him remember when he had pushed Sara down the stairs.
At that time, Jacob felt more horrified than he was now. After he pushed Sara, he was so confused and
disoriented. All he could think of was to ensure her safety. Although he was feeling nervous as he
looked at Alice's present position, he was just feeling that way out of human sympathy.
This time around he wasn't feeling heartbroken or guilty. As Jacob reminisced for a few seconds, Alice
continued to groan in pain.
"It's okay. I'm here. I'll take you to the hospital now. Don't worry." Without hesitation, Jacob picked Alice
up with his strong arms as he finished speaking.
Alice looked at him with wide eyes. She was obviously shocked by his action. She wanted to say
something but she decided to keep quiet instead. Although Alice still felt an unbearable pain in her
stomach, she stopped groaning at that moment. Being close to him was a little soothing.
At that instance a sad thought occurred to her, 'Did he come to rescue me just because I told him that
the pregnancy was his?'
If that was the reason for his appearance, then Alice felt very pathetic. She had earlier thought that he
came because he truly cared about her. She couldn't believe that Jacob had come just because of the
baby. In fact, she was displeased.
Despite the thoughts wandering in her head, Alice remained mute. She didn't hold Jacob's arm even if
she was tempted to. Instead, she just left her hands dangling in the air.
Actually, Alice was too weak to raise her hands to hold Jacob. She felt as if her whole energy had left
her body as she bled. The pain on her stomach was intensifying by the second. This made her scared
that she was losing her baby.
Alice furrowed her eyebrows as she thought about it. Her mind was obviously not where her body was.
She alienated herself from the man that was carrying her. In fact, she was tired of him. Her old self was
already dead and buried. She would no longer forgive him without hesitation like before.
Usually, a person's perception about someone who disappointed them accumulated gradually. And
over time that feeling was impossible to erase. Trust is like glass. Once it is broken it can never be the
same again.
For example, if your foot was stepped on by someone who immediately apologized to you, you might
forgive that person easily. But if that mistake was repeated again and an apology was tendered, you
won't forgive as easily as you did the first time.
Generally speaking, humans would forgive someone who wronged them because they have assumed
that their offender is remorseful or would never repeat that mistake. However, if an offender treats his
pardoner like a fool, then that person wouldn't enjoy forgiveness ever again.
This was the same way Alice felt currently. She felt like Jacob had taken her forgiving attitude for
granted. She had pardoned him for several mistakes and gradually he started seeing her as a fool. 'If
I'm not a fool, how come I'm caught up in this relationship mess? Why am I in this dilemma?' Alice
thought to herself.
In order to prove that she wasn't a gullible person, she had to come up with a feasible plan that would
yield a reasonable solution.
Even though it would only make Jacob more disgusted with her, Alice was hell-bent on proving that she
wasn't just some pathetic pushover. She wanted him to know that she was capable of things he never
imagined. Alice wanted to show him that she would always deal with anyone who dared to step on her
foot. No one could offend her and go scot-free!
Moreover, she wanted to have her revenge twofold. Alice strongly desired that he suffered twice the
suffering she faced.
Of course, Jacob already knew that Alice was planning something dubious. He could tell from her
attitude lately. Even though she was silent, he could see right through her.
Perhaps Alice might blame him for her miscarriage but he didn't care about that anymore. In fact, that
was the last thing on his mind now.
He rushed downstairs with Alice in his arms. At that instance, he felt that her hands were a little colder
than usual. This caused him to worry a little bit.
When they got downstairs, an ambulance was already blaring its siren. As the paramedics placed Alice
in the ambulance, she still didn't say a word to him.
Deep down in his heart, Jacob knew that she would never forgive him. He could tell from the look in her
eyes. More so, now that she had lost the baby, there was a very low probability that Alice would ever
forgive him.
The doctor asked questions about what happened as she lay on a stretcher. He wanted to ascertain
the level of her injury. Jacob didn't answer the questions. Instead, he looked at Alice with calm eyes.
However, Alice didn't look at him calmly. Her expression showed that she was displeased and furious.
'Did he call the ambulance because he didn't want to pick me up with his luxury car? Was he afraid that
my blood would stain his car?' These thoughts ran through her mind as she lay there. She wasn't so
conscious of her environment. She was rather concerned with the reason why Jacob called an
ambulance.
Alice frowned her face and continued to think. 'If it weren't for Jacob my life wouldn't be such a mess. I
would have lived a happy life if not for this man, right?'
Alice closed her eyes in despair. No matter the question that the doctor asked, she kept giving him the
same answer.
"Yes, yes." Those were the only words that she said. She didn't bother to paint a picture of what had
happened. As they made their way to the hospital, Jacob looked out of the window without uttering a
word.
It was already dark outside. The night had enveloped the whole city like it had placed a dark and
mysterious coat on the pedestrians. At that moment, Jacob felt a pang of pain in his heart. He was
having conflicting thoughts. He was feeling ambivalent because of Alice's present situation.
No one knew how much Jacob had loved Alice. Honestly, Jacob had loved her so much that he thought
he wasn't going to love another person in his lifetime. During the time they were dating, he always
fantasized about growing old with Alice by his side. But now, Jacob found out that he was wrong. And
that he and Alice weren't meant to be together.
Love was about keeping the same pace. It was meant to be reciprocated by both parties involved.
Otherwise, that relationship wouldn't last no matter how much they wanted to be together. Lack of love
could be very depressing. A life without love is an empty life. Everyone needed to love and be loved.
But a relationship is supposed to be nourished by love. Otherwise, it would become more like a one-
sided relationship. And such a relationship is unhealthy. When Jacob had devoted himself
wholeheartedly to their relationship, Alice didn't reciprocate. He was the only one investing his love and
care in the relationship. In the end, it all came crashing down.
It was often said that distance made the heart grow fonder. Alice strongly believed in this saying.
However, she never knew that the distance was what ripped their relationship apart. The distance didn't
help the relationship to withstand a single blow. Jacob understood this better than her.
62fb1bb41dcb31934bd49bda