The Cruelty of “I Knew You’d Come Back”
He played me like a fiddle
He didn’t answer, so I repeated my question. A quick smile flashed over his face.
“Honestly? I wasn’t even that worried because I knew you’d come back. You always have. I go too far, you leave, and after a lot of hard work from me, you come back.”
I was too flabbergasted to respond. A million thoughts tumbled through my head, bouncing off my most painful memories.
When he pulled me closer to give me a big hug, I let him. Because as much as I wanted to smack him in the face, I needed to be held more. This time, I was 100% sure I wouldn’t come back. Because he was right. This wasn’t the first time he ruined everything.
For me, this time felt different, though.
When I packed my bags and left, I was sure it was for good this time. So when I rented a studio apartment, I signed a six-month lease without blinking. The cramped space was my stepping stone to a new life—a life without him.
I was 18 when we met and 33 when I left. I had no idea how to be an adult without him. I’d never been an adult without him. I struggled with my sudden independence.
One of the things I hated in our relationship was how things always had to go his way. He would either manipulate me…
