I Quit the Love Game

Ever since Kermit returned from abroad, he'd been appearing in Sadie's life more and more often. I felt as though Sadie was slipping through my fingers, and I started arguing with her. I grew increasingly neurotic.Kermit kept goading me. I was already deeply depressed, yet he never stopped provoking me. He sent me pictures of the two of them sleeping in the same bed and flaunted the diamond ring she had given him.He even called me during one of my worst episodes. "Your wife spent the night with me last night. She said you can't even compare to my little toe."His words felt like a poisoned knife plunged into my chest.I told Sadie about my depression, but she thought I was just throwing a tantrum. When I broke down and smashed things, she said I was emotionally unstable. When I couldn't sleep because of it, she said I was overthinking everything.I grabbed a razor blade and slashed my wrist. I could barely tell whether I was still alive. I lay in the bathtub as my blood slowly t

Kermit opened the door nervously. His eyes were red, and his fingers fidgeted with the hem of his shirt.He bit his lip before speaking in a voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."Sadie stepped forward and slipped an arm around his back as though she feared he might topple over."I didn't... I didn't mean for this to happen…" Tears streaked down his face with flawless timing. "I was just... scared..."He looked up at Sadie fearfully. "She's the only family I have."Sadie's expression tightened with pain as she patted his back. "There, there. No one's blaming you."I leaned against the headboard and watched their performance."Um, Flynn?" Kermit began.He made his way toward me, but his knee suddenly buckled.Sadie caught him around the waist at once, and he immediately sagged against her chest. "I know you hate me for this... But I-I don't have anyone e-else... S-Sadie is all I have..."Sadie looked at me unhappily. "Listen. He's been through a lot. So p

"My brother's breaking down again, Sadie!" Casey's shrill voice pierced through the phone. "He keeps screaming your name!"As if on cue, Kermit's hoarse, hysterical shout came through. "Sadie doesn't want me anymore, does she? Sadie doesn't want me anymore!"Something shattered in the background.Sadie's fingers tightened around the frying pan."Um... but I'm a bit... busy at work," she stammered, shooting me furtive glances. "I can't go there... right away. Can I come later?""He's hurting himself again!" Casey shrieked. "There's blood everywhere!"Sadie dropped her phone in panic, then frantically scooped it up."I... I-I'm coming..." she mumbled.She stood before me anxiously, unsure what to do with her hands. Her fingers kept worrying the edges of her phone."Uh, Kermit..." After stammering for a while, she took my hand and finally spoke plainly. "I'll be back before you know it. Is it... okay if I leave you here alone?"I nodded calmly. I even smiled at her. "Go ahead."

I opened my eyes slowly. The blinding white light overhead made me squint. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air, accompanied by the steady beeping of my ECG monitor."You're finally awake," a low, hoarse voice said beside me.I turned and saw Sadie's haggard, exhausted face. Her eyes were red, and her clothes hung limply from her body. She looked like she hadn't slept in days.She clasped my hands tightly. Her palms felt cold."You scared me. This is the second time..." Her voice trembled. "I almost lost you..."Her tears fell onto our joined hands.I calmly pulled mine away, but she immediately snatched it back and gripped it even tighter."Don't push me away! I swear I'll never leave you alone again! I swear!"Her phone vibrated in her pocket again. Casey's name flickered across the screen. She declined the call without a second glance."I'm not leaving your side, not even for a second," she declared as she pressed the back of my hand to her forehead. "I love you. I'

My heartbeat finally stabilized, but I seemed to have willed myself into a coma. My senses stubbornly remained trapped in darkness.Sadie sat by my bedside like an empty husk. She gripped my hand so tightly that it felt as though she might crush it.When she realized how hard she was gripping me, she released my hand in alarm, then gently grazed my fingertips with her trembling fingers."Don't abandon me," she whispered.Her tears felt hot against my skin. They burned like acid.Her eyes were sunken and bloodshot. She had barely slept. When the nurse came to change my dressings, Sadie leaped to her feet so quickly that she knocked her chair over."Be gentle! He's afraid of pain!" she croaked.The nurse was startled and became even more careful.Sadie had managed to keep her wits about her during my first two suicide attempts, but she had rapidly spiraled after this one."He moved!" she had squealed once as she tugged on the doctor's sleeve. "I saw his finger tremble!"She ref