It's Not Too Late

I had known Mark for eight years, and I constantly yearned for his attention and longed to capture his heart during this whole time. I loved him, and he knew it.To make me give up, he brought back a girlfriend.People in his circle said I was addicted to loving him.They claimed I was a helpless lovestruck woman.But I didn’t care.There was nothing wrong with loving someone wholeheartedly.. To what extent had I become addicted?I had become addicted to the point where I didn't hesitate to get rid of any woman who got close to him.I paid Mark’s new love interest to leave him.She said that as long as she was with Mark, she never had to worry about money, so, she didn't care about this small amount.In the end, she enacted a scene on the staircase, accusing me of intentionally pushing her down the stairs.And I was sent to rehab by Mark.

During lunchtime, I focused on eating a loaf of bread.I ate in complete silence, didn't even touch the other dishes, and devoured my food hurriedly as if I hadn't eaten in a month."Jennifer Hill!""I'm here!"When I heard someone call my name, I reflexively put down my forks and stood up.I even replied with "I'm here" while my mouth was still full.My unexpected reaction not only surprised Mark and his grandmother, but also caught me off guard. I glanced at their astonished expressions, then looked down at the neatly arranged tableware, even though I had put them down in a hurry.I suddenly didn't know what to do. I forgot that this wasn't the rehab center.I had no idea why Mark suddenly called me."You scared Jennifer, you rascal," Mark's grandmother scolded him, then turned to me and said, "Sit down, dear, Just make yourself at home. ."I obediently sat down without touching the dishes in front of me."Grandma was talking to you, didn't you hear?" Mark spoke in an irritated tone

I went to the wardrobe and found a piece of clothing covered in dust. I shook the dust off and put it on without hesitation.Before long, I felt an itch on my back, near the wound.Perhaps it was infected.When I went out to buy clothes, Mark returned again.Why did he come back? To make fun of me?He thew some new clothes to me and told me to put them on.I refused; after all, he had a girlfriend. It wouldn't be right to buy clothes for another woman, right?Oh no, it had been three years; they should be married by now, right?But all of this was none of my business.Mark pulled me into the house.I obediently sat in the chair.Mark took some alcohol and medicinal wine, then began to wipe my back.It stung a bit, but I didn't make a sound.What was this little pain compared to the pain I had experienced a hundred or a thousand times worse?"Why is this scar on your waist?" Mark pointed to my waist, where the scar looked exceptionally ugly.Actually, the scar was closer to my kidneys.

"When will she wake up? She's been asleep for several days."When I woke up, I thought I heard Mark's voice.Why was I still haunted by Mark even after his death?It wasn't until a group of doctors examined me that I realized Mark had brought me here for gastric lavage.I had been given a second chance at life.It turned out that what I saw before losing consciousness was not an illusion. He truly appeared at that moment to save me.“Are you going to send me back there again?"I asked Mark, who had a grim expression."The doctor said you may have depression," Mark replied without directly addressing my question.I nodded, but that wasn't the main point. My only concern was whether I would be sent to rehab again."Why didn't you tell me?" Mark questioned me."Would you have believed me if I had told you?" I replied. If I were to tell him, he would have simply thought that I was making excuses to leave the rehab.While I was inside, I did have the opportunity to call him. About once ever

I continued to set up my stall every day as usual. Mark, on the other hand, watched me from a distance every day, but I couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge him.“Hey, I’m back, and I brought some classmates with me to taste your hotdogs.” It was Charles, the first customer at my stall.I glanced at the two classmates behind him and nodded in their direction as a form of greeting."What flavors would you like?" I asked them with a smile, feeling genuinely happy for the first time in a while."Any flavor is fine, we'll take one of each, and I'll pack some for my roommates to try too," one of Charles' classmates said, eyeing my hotdogs."How much? You didn't charge me last time, but this time, I can't leave without paying, or I won't come again."I didn't say I wouldn't charge. Besides, I still needed to repay the money."A dollar and fifty cents each, but I only accept cash. If you don't have cash, you can go to the convenience store nearby to get some." I pointed to the sign hanging on