I woke up and went downstairs for breakfast. I ate it quickly and grabbed a jacket, some shoes, and left the house. "Yuri, I'm going out for a walk! I'll come back soon!" I yelled right before I closed the door.

The snow had touched everything. The trees had fine outlines of white snow bordering their branches, and it was freezing cold outside even though the sun was shining bright and clear. I loved this kind of weather; it was so fresh and pure, with the cold biting at my nose but the sun warmed my skin also.

I felt a buzz in my pocket. My phone rang with a painfully familiar ringtone, and I was afraid that if I didn't answer, I would have to listen to it forever. "Annyeonghaseyo," I said to the native English speaker.

"What the hell does that mean, Nicole?" he yelled on the other side.

"Why are you calling me? We broke up, you idiot," I seethed. He laughed loudly.

"You're being such a , you know that?" Brent said. I rolled my eyes at his amazingly stupid remark.

"Why are you calling?" I growled in a low, threatening voice.

"Stop talking like that or I'll fly over to South Diarrhea-"

"KOREA, YOU -UP!!"

"Whatever the it's called. I don't care. I'll fly over there and hit you again, and I know you don't want me to do that. And you know I would, ," he stated. I obeyed, even though I know he wouldn't do it. Brent could have such a convincing tone of voice that I didn't stop to think about if he would.

"Good girl. I see you're following orders. And I'm calling to tell you that I've changed my mind and you can come back. I've forgiven you," he said.

"But I want to stay-"

"You're going to come back, Nicole. Bye," he responded, terminating the call. I didn't want to go back, though. I couldn't take it that I had to clean everything up, be abused by him, and only earn money for him to drink. I didn't get much food, money, and I had to pay for everything myself. It was like living with a little brother that didn't do anything except mooch off of my money and drink beer with his friends every night.

But he loved me. He'd hug me whenever I cried and he would ask what was wrong, and he would kiss me whenever I was exhausted, and he would listen to my problems and help me with them. I felt hot tears spilling against my cold face, and I covered my mouth with utter disbelief. How could everyth