You are chasing after Jackie.

  It’s just after your graduation, just after finding out that she told your parents that you drink, after hurting Jackie while defending yourself, after watching her walk away.

  Now Jackie, someone you thought would stay beside you regardless of how badly you treated her, she’s running from you. Barely managing to keep up, you know it’s inevitable that you lose her, so you try to call to her.

  “Ja-ck-ie,” you pant.

  The only way she acknowledges your cries is by making quick turns, probably with the hope that you get lost. You’re not sure if that’s really why she did it but if it was, she succeeded. You have no idea where she went.

  You spend a few more minutes trying to find her before you sit down on the side of the road. You messed up. You lost her, all because you forgot how sensitive she is. No, this can’t be the end. She’s probably still nearby, holed up somewhere balling her eyes out.

  You walk about a block before you hear muffled cries. Turning down an alley you find Jackie sobbing into her hands.

  You take a step inside but she hears you and looks up. Her eyes are red and puffy. She stumbles to her feet, presumably to keep running away, but there is only one exit and you are blocking it.

  “I-I’m sorry,” she says. “But please just let me go. I need some time to think.” She tries to slip past you, but you grab her arm.

  “Jackie,” you say in your gentlest tone, “I’m sorry about what I said. I didn’t mean it. I love you and I’m not about to lose you because of this. We both messed up, but we can get over this together. Just you and me, like always.”

  She tries to pull away but you don’t let go of her. “Avery, I mean it, just let me go.” Her voice is a little stronger now, more forceful.

  You pull her into a hug. “I’m never letting you go, Jackie.”

  “I need time,” she says, but you can hear the weakening resolve in her voice.

  “Why? Do you want to get away from me? Please don’t hate me. I said I was sorry.” She can never say no after you say something like that.

  She pushes you away. “No.” She can’t meet your eyes. “I’m not going to see you again until you are sober.”

  “What? Why? That is so mean!”

  “Avery, you didn’t graduate because I’ve been letting you drink. You’re addicted. You need to stop, and I haven’t been helping you do that. You’ll do better with your parents.”

  I know I should stay calm, but now I’m angry again. “First of all, what the heck! It’s probably just a mistake that I didn’t get called up. Second, I’m not addicted, I just have a drink every now and then. You’re overreacting.”

  She grabs your shoulders. “Avery, over the past few years you have stolen and drunk more than a third of what was in my wine cellar all by yourself and you can’t stop.” She pulls back. “You need help.” She’s not making eye contact. “The drunk version of you is a manipulative jerk who doesn’t care who they hurt. I don’t like that person.”

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  “I’m not that bad,” I argue.

  “You are.” She’s glaring at me. “But even if you weren’t I’d still be doing this. You’re suffering from it too, but you won’t admit you have a problem. I came up with so many different ideas while sitting through the rest of the ceremony after you got skipped, but I think this is the only way to make you face what you’ve become.” She looks down at the floor as more tears trickle down. “I wanted more time, but, this is the only way…”

  “Abandoning me is not the only way.” She flinches. “God, Jackie! I thought we could count on each other. I was there throughout your mom’s death. I pick up every time you call crying! You can’t leave me, you need me.”

  “... I’m not changing my mind this time,” she sounds sure.

  “You aren’t changing your mind? You change your mind all the freaking time.” I counter. “Like all those times you said you just wanted me to hold you, or all those times you begged me to leave you alone, before calling an hour later and begging for me to stay on the phone so you don’t have to be alone.”

  She’s ashamed now. Just one more push and she’ll give in.

  “What about the times you wanted to change your name, drop out of school, or move away? You don’t know when you are going to change your mind, so just trust me and let me stay.” You try to get closer to her but she pushes you away.

  “No! I’m done, Avery…” she’s glancing around, scared.

  “No, you’re not.” You know she won’t leave.

  “Avery…” She pulls her arms back. “I’m done,” she repeats, this time more forcefully.

  “What do you mean you're done?” I chuckle. She can’t leave you.

  She turns and starts walking away.

  “Jackie!” You run a few steps and grab her hand again. “Please,” you beg.

  She turns towards you and you see an expression you have seen before, but never really recognized.

  You recoil from her. “You pity me, don’t you?”

  Silence.

  “The only reason you’re still dating me is because you pity me, isn’t it?!” You point at her. “The rumors about you were right. You are just some uptight rich kid who thinks they’re better than everyone else!”

  She hurt, but you don’t care. She pities you and she’s leaving you. She deserves to feel a little hurt.

  “I’ve helped you through everything. I’ve helped you with all your problems and now you’re leaving me because I have one small problem! You can’t do that! You can’t live without me. I’m the only person who is still with you; even your mom left you.”

  She freezes. “That’s not- my mom didn’t-”

  “Oh shut up! Stop playing cool. Your mom killed herself, everyone knows it. She chose to leave you. If you leave me, you’ll be alone forever; no one else will ever love the real you!”

  Her head and hands fall. She’s been defeated.

  You wrap her in a hug. “It’s okay. I’ve got you. I’ll never leave you.”

  “Fuck you,” she whispers.

  “What?”

  “Fuck you,” she repeats, this time louder and more forcefully. She shoves you and walks away.

  “If you leave now, you’ll be alone forever!” you call after her.

  “I don’t care,” she says as she keeps walking.

  “You really think you can do everything alone? Ha! You’ve never had to do anything for yourself!”

  She stops and turns back. You breathe a sigh of relief, but then she opens up her mouth. “I’ve done more than you will ever know.” Her voice is stronger and fiercer than you think you’ve ever heard it before. The determined sadness on her face is new too.

  You must’ve been staring at her for too long because she reacts to it.

  “I hope you can get your drinking problem under control.” It’s her business voice. “I wish you the best, I really do, but goodbye, Avery… Goodbye forever.”

  With those words, Jackie turns and leaves.