“I can and I will.” Striding forward, he grabbed my face and kissed me in front of everyone. His hands shook, his lips trembled.

He broke me completely.

“Please, Nila. Do this for me. Let me make this right.”

Pushing me gently to the door, he commanded, “Go and don’t look back.”

My world crumbled.

My legs didn’t want to move.

My heart didn’t want to beat.

His eyes begged me to obey.

Please…go.

Stumbling, I did the impossible.

I didn’t look at Jasmine.

I didn’t look at Jethro.

I kept moving.

I would honour him.

I would obey him.

Even though every inch of me bled.

Even though every part of me was dead.

I would go home.

I would find a way to fix this.

It wasn’t over.

Two seconds later…

…

I was gone.