39

Grace approached me and hugged me tightly. I cried on her shoulder like a little girl; the slap on my cheek didn't hurt as much as the pain I felt in my soul.

"Why did you do it, Kat? You didn't deserve something like this," she said to me as she held me close.

I began to sob, unable to answer, not feeling capable of speaking; the tears and the huge lump in my throat prevented it.

"He hates me," I managed to say.

Grace pulled me away from her and looked into my eyes; then, she gently caressed my bruised cheek.

"He shouldn't have hit you. I know you pressured him too much, but he shouldn't have done it, and you... you shouldn't have said all those things to him. You both made mistakes," she said.

I knew all too well about that, but this was the only way to keep him away from me. I just wanted him to shine because if he stayed with me, sooner or later he would hate me for not letting him reach his dreams and goals. Maybe one day he'll thank me for what I did.

"It's done now, and I know