Page 131 of Don't Leave Me

I was sobbing. He was so terrifying in that moment, but I still couldn’t believe him.

“Jack, no,” I shook my head. “You wouldn’t do that. You’re my sweet, lovely Jack,” I said through my tears, trying to get through to him.

He tilted his head at me. “No? I wouldn’t?”

He then stood up and pointed to the canvases all around us, his art displayed and suddenly terrifying.

“Do you think someone in their right mind would paint things like this?” he pointed to his nightmarish painting I had pointed out the first time I saw it: the man with his face blowing away.

“Your art is just dark…you’re creative, Jack,” I argued with him, not accepting anything he was saying.

He looked at me, confused, possibly angry that I didn’t believe him.

“Hana, I’ve been stalking you,” he raised his eyebrows at me again, his voice sharp. “I’ve seen your gorgeous Chelsea flat. I’ve seen you taking the train a few times a week to meet Michael for lunch. What’s the spot…Ulysses?” he asked, but he knew exactly what he was talking about.

My stomach began to sink as he continued.

“I’ve seen your random strolls to the waterside park near your flat, only to spend two minutes looking around and walking back home. I’ve seen your dinner dates at that fancy restaurant near the High Line. I’ve seen Michael bring you flowers home on a weekly basis, or the bags from shops he picks up. He gets off the train a few stops early, did you know that?” he went on, pacing in front of me. “He likes the walk, I assume. Or maybe he just wants a few extra minutes to be alone, without you. If I were him, I’d never let you out of my sight,” he snarled, then stopped pacing to look at me. He smiled, returning to his sweet self. “In fact, that’s what I’m going to do, now that you’re mine again.”

I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I was going to have a heart attack the way my heart stomped in my chest. I was starting to believe him.

“Jack, why don’t you just untie me and we can talk about this? We can work something out,” I smiled through my tears.

“I can’t untie you until I know you won’t try to leave,” he responded quickly, then sat down next to me on the bed.

I tried to think quickly. “I won’t try to leave, Jack. You’re right, he was all wrong for me. It’s you I belong with-”

“Hana, stop,” he interrupted, shaking his head. “Don’t lie to me like that. I’m not a fucking idiot. I know you will say anything to get untied. I need you to reallythinkabout this, Hana,” he went on, then gently put his hand on my thigh. It took everything in me not to flinch. “You think I’m in the wrong right now, I know. But eventually, you’ll see. It’s you and I that belong together. We think alike. Our brains are wired the same. We’re two creatives, two sensitive people living in this harsh, unfair world,” he continued, his voice now soft. “Weneedeach other, Hana,” he nodded.

I gulped.

“Think about this, Jack,” I finally responded quietly, cautiously. “Don’t you think Michael is going to start to look for me? Isn’t he going to worry when I’m not there when he gets home?”

Jack smiled. “I’ve already taken care of that, my love. I’ve been planning this for a very long time,” he raised his eyebrows, then got up and headed towards the kitchen in the corner of the loft.

I looked around, trying to find any way to just get myself free, but he was already walking back to me a moment later with a phone in his hand – my phone.

“You really made it easy to get in here, Hana,” he smiled, looking up at me through his lashes. “Michael’s birthday as your passcode? Not very smart, sweetheart,” he shook his head at me.

I started to gently cry again.

“I’ve written an e-mail to him, from you of course. Thanks to your loving text exchanges to each other, I know he won’t be home till late. A day trip to Philly for business, right?” he asked, but didn’t wait for me to answer. “I can read it to you, if you’d like.”

I shook my head, but he started to read it anyway.

“Dear Michael. I am writing this email because it’s too difficult to face you and tell you this. I don’t want to be dissuaded when I’ve already made up my mind,” Jack looked up at me and winked.

“Good, huh?” he flashed a devilish grin, then went on. “I am breaking off our engagement and I am leaving you. I have given lot of thought to this, and the simple answer is that I just can’t see myself living this way forever. I can’t see myself growing old with you. This wasn’t the lifestyle that I had envisioned for myself, and we simply want different things. The truth is, I thought I loved you. But when I learned of Jack’s near death and saw him in the hospital, I realized that I didn’t want to be in a world where Jack didn’t exist, nor where he existed without me. I have come to realize that we need each other, that our love is real, and that my heart belongs to him,” Jack looked up at me now, and I was full on sobbing. He went on quietly. “I am sorry for the hurt I am about to cause you. Please give me some space and privacy while I grieve over the loss of our love, but continue to grow my love with Jack. I have left my engagement ring on the bedside table. I will get the rest of my things at a later date, if needed. Sincerely, Hana.”

I shook my head violently, pressing my heels into the bed, squirming my tied up hands and making my wrists go raw as I spit out, “He won’t buy it! He won’t believe that! Please let me go!” I writhed in pain, not only physically, but emotionally.

“Hana, stop it,” Jack growled.

“Please, Jack, please let me go,” I cried out, ignoring him, my face drenched in tears and snot.

“Hana, listen to me!”

I felt Jack put his hand up to my face, his fingers on each side of my cheeks. I froze with terror.

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