Forgive and Forget?

I saw the bruise reflected in the mirror. It was huge and purple, an eyesore and right in the middle of my cheek. I couldn’t hide it.

As I worried about my predicament, the phone began to ring. I stopped. It would be him. I let it ring, and it went to answer phone.

His voice spoke to me, “Jane, I’m so sorry. I never meant it to happen. Please call me so we can talk.”

He sounded sincere enough but I pressed the delete button on the answer phone, heard it beep as it erased him and felt a little better.

I debated what to do. Go to my seminar and see him, all the while knowing that he hurt me the way he did. And the looks I would get.

I knew it was a crucial time, coming up to the end of semester and final exams. I made up my mind; I would go, he couldn’t talk to me; I wouldn’t let him stop my education.

I packed my bag and headed for the door, leaving my dorm room behind.

I sat in my usual seat taking notes, shrugging off the questions about my face. I saw him look at me, his eyes burning with apology. I hated it.

The bell rang an hour later and I stood, grabbed my pack and walked from the room.

“Jane!” I heard him shout. He reached out to grab me but I pulled away.

“Don’t!” I yelled.

“But-“ His face floated in front of me.

“I don’t want to know. You slept with her, you hit me. That was no misunderstanding. It’s over.” I walked away from him, leaving a crowd of onlookers, feeling the burden of the past day seeping from me. I smiled.