When Sympathy Kills

My girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, her first love, got rescued from a brutal scam operation run by a Mexican cartel.

Ever since he came back, if he felt sick, she'd drop everything C including me C to rush to his side.

When I protested, she snapped at me:

He was beaten half to death over there! He's fragile, Jacob! Why not just let him have his way this time!

To cheer him up, she gave him the brand new Rolex I'd just bought C the one worth over fifteen grand.

She let him raid my walk-in closet, picking out my clothes to wear.

She even stole my credit card to buy him stuffs.

And then, to

"help him relax," she secretly started sleeping with him.

I caught them on bed. My girlfriend just shrugged it off:

"Ethan's too anxious, Jacob. I was just helping him relax."

Later, I decided to let her indulge her "sympathy" for her ex.

I moved on, found my own happiness, and married the woman I'd always dreamed of.

And that's when she completely lost it.

I came home early and caught my girlfriend Sophia Williams and her first love Ethan rolling around naked in my bed..

Ethan spotted me first.

I stood in the doorway, staring at them coldly.

He flushed crimson, shoved Sophia off him, tumbled off the bed, and scrambled into a corner.

He hugged his knees, rocking back and forth, muttering,

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry please don't hurt me please"

Sophia, who'd looked pretty enjoyed a second ago, snapped to attention.

She scrambled over to Ethan, completely unconcerned about her own nudity.

"Shh, Ethan, baby, it's okay. No one's mad at you. Don't blame yourself."

"Oh god, stop biting your arm! You're hurting yourself! Let go!"

But he was stronger.

Watching him self-harm, she stood up, ran over naked, and without a word slapped me across the face.

"Jacob Reynolds!"

she screamed.

"What the hell are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be at work? Look what you've done! You scared him half to death! Go apologize to him right now!"

I stood rooted to the spot.

She couldn't budge me.

I had been simmering with anger all this time, and seeing her attitude now, I had no kind words left to say.

"I apologize? How about you explain what the hell is going on? You're my girlfriend, living in my house! You bring your ex here, I catch you screwing him in my bed, and I'm supposed to apologize? Are you kidding me?"

Sophia looked at me like I was the unreasonable one.

"Jesus, Jacob! How many times do I have to tell you? Ethan was trapped in that hellhole for weeks! They tortured him! He came back on the edge of mental breakdown! Now he's finally starting to feel a little better. I was helping him relax when he felt anxious! What's there to explain?"

I actually laughed, a harsh, bitter sound.

Then I slapped her back, the sound sharp in the room.

"Sophia Williams," I said, my voice thick with disappointment.

"You've totally let me down. "

That's when Ethan lunged. He scrambled over, wrapped his arms around Sophia, shielding her behind him.

His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was shaky and tearful.

"Jacob it's all my fault I shouldn't have touched Sophia I was just so scared scared like back in that place Sophia she's been so patient so kind helping me accept life again I I"

I didn't let him finish.

I kicked him hard in the gut.

He crumpled. I spat on the floor near him, disgust twisting my face as I looked at the pair of them.

"Disgusting. Get out! Both of you! I want you gone before I get back."

I slammed the door so hard the frame rattled. Pulling out my phone, I called my best friend.

"Mikey. Meet me at O'Malley's. Now. I need to drink."

At the bar, I drowned my anger in whiskey, shot after shot.

My phone buzzed relentlessly in my pocket.

Finally, I answered. It was Sophia.

She sounded worriedC but not for me.

"Jacob, stop being childish! Fine, I'll send Ethan away! He won't stay at our place anymore! I know you're upset, but honestly, his mental state"

I hung up before she could finish another sentence about Ethan.

I grabbed a bottle and tipped it back.

Mikey snatched the bottle from me, his face concerned.

"Jacob, man, what the hell happened with Sophia? I haven't seen you this wrecked in years. You've downed half the bar already. Tell me."

His concern was the crack I needed. The alcohol loosened my tongue, and all the pent-up resentment poured out.

"Mikey, remember when I chased Sophia? I knew she was insecure, so I gave my whole paycheck to her every month.

I lived on ramen and cheap beer for three years. I wore threadbare shirts to save money, so she could buy designer bags."

"Her brother Was useless. He had no degree or skills, just a lazy mooch. To stop her mom draining Sophia for him, I pulled every favor, swallowed every insult, got him that cushy office job."

"When her parents got sick, I hired nurses, cooked meals after work and handled everything. Sophia didn't even lift a finger."

"Now? I'm rich. I am not proud, I don't smoke and only drink responsibly. I bought the house and a car. It's fine that she feels bad her ex got tortured. But why does she let him move in? Why let him wear my clothes, my damn Rolex? She knew how much I loved that watch!"

"And you know the worst part? Every time I got mad, she acted cute with me, and I just soften up again. Thought, 'She's just too kind-hearted.' Well, my 'kind-hearted' girlfriend was naked in my bed with him today!"

"And she wanted me to apologize!"

I smashed the bottle on the floor.

Glass and whiskey sprayed everywhere.

The mess mirrored my life perfectly.

Shattered. Failed.

The manager rushed over.

Mikey smoothed things over.

"Sorry, man. My buddy is upset from being dumped. I'll cover the damage."

The manager nodded, saying he understood, and moved us to a booth.

After Mikey heard the whole sordid tale, he was fuming too.

Then his eyes widened at his phone.

"Holy crap, Jake! Sophia just posted something this is messed up. Look."

He shoved his phone at me. There it was a selfie of Sophia and Ethan kissing under fireworks.

Caption: Your light was dimmed, but I'll help you shine again.

I checked my own phone and found I was blocked.

I couldn't bear it anymore!

I smashed my own phone, my chest heaving, rage choking me.

That night, I drank until my stomach rebelled and ended up in the ER.

Hazily, I heard Mikey call Sophia.

"Jacob's in the hospital. Can't you even bother to come take a look?"

Her voice was distant and distracted.

"What? He drank again? Well, you're there, Mikey. Take care of him. I can't leave right now. Someone here needs constant care."

Mikey snorted.

"Someone? You mean your little boy won't let you leave? You're squatting in Jacob's house, stealing his stuff, screwing in his bed, and now he's in the hospital heartbroken, and you can't be bothered? You're disgusting."

A loud thud and Sophia's scream echoed down the line before it went dead.

I passed out.

I dreamed of the early days with Sophia.

We were inseparable.

When I got laid off, I had a bad financial situation.

She secretly took out a loan to keep us afloat, eating nothing but instant noodles and oatmeal for months.

She believed in me and inspired me every day.

Because of her, I pulled through.

Later, I paid off her loan.

Our life got better.

I was even planning to propose.

Then Ethan showed up and blew everything apart.

First, she brought him home, let him wear my clothes and use my things.

I tolerated it because Sophia would say,

"Don't forget your own dark times, Jacob. Remember how you needed someone? He needs that light now."

But my tolerance just made them bolder.

They were bold enough to screw in my bed. Was that part of bringing him into the light?

Back then, I respected her too much to push for intimacy, just afraid of burdening her.

The dream turned sour, and I woke to shouting and someone hitting my chest.

Sophia stood over me, eyes puffy and furious.

"Jacob! You can get as much drunk as you want, but why did you send Mikey to torment Ethan? He's in the hospital now! He's already suffering! Why would you do that? Answer me!"

Her slaps rained down on my head and shoulders.

My hangover throbbed. I shoved her away.

"Enough, Sophia! If you're so worried about your precious Ethan, we're done. Let's break up and block each other. Never contact me again. I'm done."

She froze. Panic flashed in her eyes.

"You you're breaking up with me?"

"Damn right!"

"No that's impossible. We love each other! You wouldn't"

I pulled out my phone, unlocked it, found her number, and hit block.

Then I went into my photos and deleted every picture of us.

To make it final, I emptied the photo trash folder too.

My voice was flat.

"There is no 'us' anymore, Sophia."

She grabbed my phone, trying to unblock herself, but I'd changed the passcode.

"You changed it? You promised you'd always be open with me!"

Her voice cracked.

"Jacob, please don't do this. I promise, no more Ethan at the house. No more overstepping. I won't make you angry anymore. Please?"

First she blames me for hurting Ethan, now this?

I looked her in the eye.

"Can you cut him off completely? Send him to a psychiatric hospital for treatment. They have professional staff there, and I'll cover the costs."

Sophia didn't hesitate.

"Ethan needs me. Anything else, Jacob. Anything but that."

Her phone rang.

She answered, turned, and walked out without a backward glance. Watching her go, the disappointment was crushing.

I knew it was Ethan who was scared again, needing his guardian angel.

As the door closed behind her, my decision was cemented. This relationship was over.

Mikey burst in, looking frantic.

"Jacob! Check this out! I saw Ethan acting shady, totally freaked out. He dropped this. I picked it up you need to get tested. Now."

He handed me a crumpled medical report.

Ethan Young was positive for Syphili and HIV.

I'd seen articles.

People trapped in those cartel operations often had diseases.

I'd suggested Sophia get him tested weeks ago.

She blew up.

"Ethan's fine! Stop stressing him out!"

I'd backed down, not wanting a fight.

Now, the reality hit me. He'd been in my bed, worn my clothes and used my things.

And Sophia she'd been exposed.

Goosebumps erupted and my skin crawled. I just wanna throw up.

"Mikey, make me an appointment. Now."

I called a cleaning service, and told them to bag up everything in the house C clothes, furniture, dishes, everything C and burn it.

Within a day, my home was stripped bare, just empty walls and floors.

I listed it for sale. It was a prime location, so buyers lined up fast.

I gave the realtor my price and walked away.

Sophia and Ethan had moved out after our fight, so they had no clue. Everything in that house, from the sofa to the coffee mugs, Sophia and I had picked out together.

Now, all I could see was contamination.

My test results came back clean.

Negative.

I breathed a massive sigh of relief.

The truth was that Sophia and I hadn't been intimate in months.

I was so busy at work, and once Ethan showed up, there was no time for us.

Not even a hug or a kiss.

Sophia, you made your choices.

I can't force myself to accept this madness anymore. This is the path you chose. I hope you don't regret it when you find out the truth.

I checked out of the hospital, took leave from work, mailed Sophia the "couple" ring she'd bought me years ago, and booked a flight to Denver.

I needed to climb mountains to chill.

Halfway up a trail, Mikey called.

"Dude, Sophia's lost it! She got the ring, went to the hospital, found out you were gone and stormed your office she even called the cops! They came by my place asking questions!"

"She showed up here with a damn kitchen knife, Jacob! They threatened me to tell her where you are!"