Nathan panicked as soon as he saw my tears. It seemed like he had completely forgotten what had happened at Shannon’s welcome party. I almost did too, but the memory of him rushing after her reminded me how the piping hot soup came to burn half of my arm.
I remained silent, unsure whether I should tell him and shatter his mask of feigned affection or just quietly scratch its pain and itchiness. “You’ve been with Shannon, haven’t you?”
But he completely ignored my question and chuckled, more like to himself. “Look at you—you’re already old now but still afraid of just a little pain. You’re always crying—” He paused when he lifted up the sleeve of my sweater. He cursed at the sight of it. “Oh, Morganne...what would you do without me?”
He left my side and immediately rushed to get first aid.
Silence made me more uncomfortable knowing that he cheated on me but still kind of cared about me. “But Nathan, I don’t want you anymore. I don’t want this fake love anymore!”
“Stop uttering words you don't know the meaning of, Morganne.” He said nothing about my confession and only cleaned the burn in my arms and helped me climb to bed to sleep.
***