NO LONGER HIS PLAYTHING：I'm the Heroine of My Own Story novel Chapter 13

Zephyr tried to see me several times after I got home from the hospital. I kept my door locked, pretending I wasn't there.

One evening, our class president texted me:

Emma: [What the hell is up with you and Zephyr?]

Phoebe: [...]

Emma: [He's been totally losing his shit lately. Can you please handle him?]

Phoebe: [?]

Emma: [When are you planning to come back to school anyway?]

Before I could reply, Emma suddenly called me.

When I answered, it wasn't her voice on the line, but Zephyr's: "How much longer are you gonna keep up this bullshit, Phoebe?"

"Blocking me? Playing these pathetic little games just to get my attention?"

"You're welcome to disappear from my life completely! Who the fuck wants to go to the same college as you? You think I actually wanted that? I was just trying to make you happy because you're so goddamn obsessed with me!"

Zephyr's words were as vicious as ever, soaked in the same contempt I'd heard in the bathroom.

I paused, then replied with a calmness that surprised even me: "Okay. I understand."

This only seemed to enrage him further: "The hell does that mean? You're not done with your little tantrum yet?"

Two weeks ago, his anger would have devastated me.

I would have called back immediately, apologizing, making excuses for him, desperate to smooth things over.

Now I felt nothing but relief, like setting down a heavy backpack I'd been carrying for years.

I didn't need to analyze his words or search for hidden meanings.

I didn't need to wonder if he really cared underneath all that rage.

I was free.