Seeing Jessica, so similar to me yet different in demeanor and haircut, confirmed the rumors that went viral for the past sixteen years, which inevitably sank my heart. John had used me as a substitute for Jessica.
"Don’t get it wrong," she said. "My dog died during transport, and John, being the good guy he is, was helping me grieve here."
I replied coldly, "And how is that my concern?"
Despite my restraint, John acted as if I was attacking Jessica.
He stepped between us and said, "Emily, why are you always so confrontational?"
I used to defend myself, but now I had no energy left to fight.
Simply, I answered, "Yes. Are you killing me? If not, I'll leave."
As I began to walk away, John grabbed my wrist out of reflex. I pulled away sharply.
He looked confused, as if I was the one being unreasonable.
"Emily, why all the drama? Didn’t I give you the medication?"
My laughter was bitter, filled with pain, "The medication? The one dose I had to beg for on my knees? It wasn't enough for seven of us, John!"
"Is it really so hard to provide enough doses? Anyone can buy these drugs with money. Why can't we? Do you really despise me that much?"
My family tested positive at his hospital. I had tried everything and begged the nurses for more doses, but only John’s approval would suffice. I called him for it but he didn't let me finish and threw me one dose, then left the country.
Afterwards, no matter how many times I called, his phone was off.
Seven of us, just one dose.
That decision forced me to choose who might live.
All my pent-up anger, grief, and despair came pouring out.
Remembering my family’s tormented faces in the morgue overwhelmed me, and I broke down crying.
John had never seen me like this. For a moment, empathy flickered in his eyes.
He left Jessica to comfort me, but his initial words were far from soothing,
"Emily, I see Jessica as a sister. You shouldn’t trivialize your family's health."
I stared at him, dumbfounded.
He still believed I was using our family’s illness to manipulate him.
I was a shameless monster that would go all lengths in his mind...
"You're playing with my family’s lives," I said, my voice choked with emotion.
I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by despair, "John Garcia, it's over between us."
Nothing else mattered now; six of my family were gone.
John’s face showed a flicker of panic, but he quickly masked it with dismissiveness,