Helen’s POV:
I looked at the little girl blankly.She was sitting next to me, and on the other side sat a beautiful, young
woman who was probably her mother.The little girl handed the tissue to me and said softly, "Here you
are, miss.Please don’t cry.Everything will be all right."
Only then did I realize that there were a few more people sitting in the subway car.They were all staring
at me with curious eyes.Perhaps in all my heavy crying, I hadn’t realize what a mess I was.
"Thank you." I took the tissue and wiped my tears.
As soon as I touched my injured cheek, it hurt so much that I started sobbing uncontrollably again.
"Do you want to go to the hospital? I will be happy to take you," the little girl’s mother said in a soft,
gentle voice.
"No, thank you.I’m fine."
My nose twitched again.The kindness from a stranger stirred the grievance deep inside my heart, and
tears fell unabated again.I hurriedly turned around to wipe my tears.I didn’t want anyone to see me cry.
"Miss, don’t cry, please.I’ll blow your booboo for you so it will stop hurting."
The little girl was about three or four years old.She naively thought that as long as she blew my cheek,
the pain would go away.
"Honey, if she wants to cry, just let her cry.She will feel fine after crying," the little girl’s mother explained
to her gently.
I felt warmth from total strangers, and my cold heart gradually warmed up, little by little.My rivulet of tears
had stopped but my eyes were dry and hurt.
"Thank you." I expressed my sincere gratitude to them.
"You are welcome.We all encounter various kinds of problems when we least expect it.We just have to
be brave and face them," the little girl’s mother said, trying to console me.
Only then did I realize that I had already passed several stops in the subway.
All the other passengers had alighted.
Only the little girl and her mom hadn’t gotten off yet.
Maybe I cried too hard just now and they were worried about me, so they stayed with me to make sure I
would be fine.
Their kindness cheered me up a bit and I got a better grip on myself.
In fact, I was a little disappointed in myself.I had shown my weakness in public, all thanks to Jane and
Libby.I had also created such a fiasco at Zhester Technology, thanks again to the decadent duo.I couldn’t
participate in this case anymore because I couldn’t stand to be in the same building as Jane.
Since I couldn’t afford to offend her, I had no choice but to walk away, God seemed to have played a
cruel trick on me.I had finally seen a glimmer of light in my life.I thought my mother would soon recover
and leave the hospital, and that my career would soon take off.
Everything seemed to be heading in a positive direction.
But soon, the light disappeared without a trace and I was plunged into darkness again.
The endless darkness and cold enveloped me, suffocating me.
When I got home, it was already dark.The sensor light was on as I walked in the corridor.
George was already waiting for me when I reached the door.He stood there erect, with a serious
expression on his face.He was no longer as casual and relaxed as before.
There was a small bag in his hand, probably containing some ointment.
As soon as I saw him, I instinctively took two steps back, fearfully.I was crazy enough to think that he
would grab my hand again and let Jane hit me, albeit she was not there, George fixed his deep-set eyes
on me.
There was no mistaking the regret and pity in his eyes.
"Does it still hurt?" I didn’t answer him.I just looked at him warily from afar and slowly moved further away
from him.I backed up against the wall in the corridor.
The wall behind me, although cold, gave me a sense of security and support.
"Helen, please give me a chance to explain…" George suddenly stepped towards me.
At this moment, he looked like a dangerous beast in front of me, ready to attack its prey.
"Just stay away from me!"
I shouted at him tempestuously.
Perhaps it was because I had cried so much in the afternoon that my dry eyes began to ache again.
Tears gathered in my eye sockets and hindered my sight.His tall figure began to double and blur.I didn’t
want to have anything to do with this ill-fated man now, even at the cost of losing my job.His very sight
conjured up images of my father protecting Jane against me.
Fear and sadness engulfed my being..I had suffered a lot because of Jane since I was a child.
In fact, I attributed eighty percent of my suffering to her I didn’t want to experience those nightmares any
more.It hurt so much I felt wronged and aggrieved.
Sadly I had no place to vent my anger and air my grievances.I had to silently swallow it, acidic as it
was.It was enough to have tasted it once.
There was no need for another person to remind me that the abusive pattern of my childhood would
follow me into my adulthood.
In the heart of the person I cared most about, I was no match to judicious Jane! George stopped in his
tracks and his large eyes were full of guilt.
"Helen, I’m sorry…"
I lowered my head and clenched my fists, trying not to break down in front of George "Go away.I don’t
want to see you!"
"I’ve got you some pain relieving cream and other stuff.Don’t forget to apply them."
He hung the small plastic bag on the doorknob and obediently stepped back.I quickly went over and took
out the key from my bag to open the door.
With trembling fingers, I unlocked the door As soon as I opened the door, 1 rushed in, closed the door
and locked it without a second thought.I casually threw the bag of medicines onto the ground.
Since I had made up my mind to cut ties with him, I refused to use the cream he had brought That
evening, Lucy visited me.She brought along the very same soothing balm.She helped me apply the
ointment.
Although it was a gentle touch, I still grimaced in pain, gritted my teeth and gasped.
"Ouch! That hurts! Hold on!"
Lucy ignored me and continued to apply the ointment.
Then she said reproachfully.
"Are you stupid? If you want to hit Jane, please advise me in advance! How dare she bully you? I’ll twist
her head off!"
There was also a scratch on Lucy’s face.
Jane had scratched her when she was trying to intervene on my behalf.
Suddenly, I felt a little guilty.
"It’s all my fault that you got scratched."
"It’s just a small scratch.It’s no big deal.You have no idea how badly 1 beat up Jane.I pulled out tufts of
her hair, ha-ha! She has some bald spots now! It’s been a while since ! fought someone.I’ve still got it!"
Lucy said victoriously.
"Thank you, Lucy." I felt much better with my friend by my side.
Lucy always stuck with me through thick and thin I had a terrible nervous breakdown today.
Partly because of my mother’s relapse and attempted suicide, and also because George grabbed my
wrist and restrained me from slapping Jane When he held iny hand, many warm feelings that I had for
him dissipated into ice water that I allowed to flow away from me.
From that moment on, George just ceased to hold an important place in my life.
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