At the age of 23 Jack was leading a successful life after college. He was working at his dad's construction company as a foreman and was working towards a master in social work. He lived in a shithole apartment that he could easily escape but he couldn't leave it, for it was the last memory of "The Cunt". Every time he called her that it was only to make people think he was over it. The truth was everyday was filled with thoughts of her almost to the point where it was unbearable pain he could only kill with the LSD which just made things worse. It also made him wake up next to some psychotic bitch Julia who now stalked him.
Through all this pain every time he thought of her he was happy, her, the only thing that had made Jack happy. Her name was Ashley, the most beautiful girl in the world. She had eyes that sparkled in the light and a smile that could make the world happier. Kissing her was like sex and sex with her was like heaven. But that was a year ago and because of how it ended they never talked again. This pained him more.
He played over how it ended everyday and thought about how he could have changed it. Towards the end of the relationship Jack was getting into drugs and wasn't the most supporting person. He tried to seek help but it was too late. All he had at that point was his best friend Bill and Ashley. Then while he was sitting in his child psych class he overheard another student talking about how Bill and Ashley were together kissing and holding each other. Jack broke down but most of all he just got full of revenge. He confronted Bill his best friend for almost his whole life and just beat him until he was pulled away.
After going to rehab Jack chose some new friends. Stoners. All he did when he thought of Ashley was smoke a blunt and fuck some random girl but it wasn't the same as this love he once had. He no longer was loved and no longer had a true friend.
On this particular night of June 23 he was just doing the usual, smoking a couple bowls, dropping some acid and then listening to music. He felt a little horny and thought he'd call Julia. Just then his phone rang. He picked up the phone and said "Hello".
"Hey Jack its Ashley"
Jack thought he had just heard an angel. His next sentence came out with much trouble.
"Ummm, hey....What's up man?"
"I want to talk to you." She said. "Do you want to meet up at Starbucks in like 20 minutes?"
Jack now had an executive decision to make, have Julia come over or see Ashley the girl he loved. Julia had two things to offer, weed and sex, but on the other hand Ashley offered love.
"Yea I'll be there"
They said bye and Jack got in his car and stopped to get cigarettes and a couple beers before he went and met her.
Even though everything seemed unreal to him Jack spotted Ashley right away, sitting and looking beautiful. He sat down next to her and said "Hey".
When she looked up at him Jack noticed that her face had many cuts and bruises on them. She was also crying. "Hey." she said back weakly.
"What happened?" Jack asked with much concern.
"Bill and I got in a fight and he hit me." she replied as tears rolled down her face.
"I'm so sorry." Jack said, "Can I do anything to help?"
"Can we go back to your place so we can talk?" she asked
"Yea sure, but can you drive I'm too fucked up."
Ashley let out a small laugh and said "Sure"
When they got in the car Jack let her pick out what she wanted to listen to. She chose the Slint CD that they used to listen to all the time. She started the car and they were off.
"Do you still live in that shitty apartment?" Ashley asked.
"Yea man."
"I hated living there it was so disgusting."
"I don't mind man."
The rest of the drive was silent but Jack just stared at her the whole time thinking about how beautiful she was. He changed the CD at one point to listen to some Portishead.
When the got in his apartment they just sat down on the couch and sat in silence for a minute then Jack lit a cigarette and said "So what do you want to talk about?"
"You." she said softly.
"Me."
"Well me and you I guess."
"What do you mean?"
"Well I want to talk about how we ended and what I did to you."
"Okay" Jack said reluctantly
"I know what I did to you was really fucked up and I know that you really needed me and I was just being selfish and recently I just haven't been able to stop thinking about you and how bad I hurt you and I want you to know I still love you and I want to start over." she said as tears began to run down her face.