I'm very easy going. I am. And I have a lot more patience than I give myself credit. But once I've had enough, I take no more. And a while ago, Ashley got a little sample of the way I am when I've had enough.

I was sitting on the couch, watching 'Six Feet Under'. The phone rang. I got up, answered and the minute I said 'Hello' this recording started. I've been putting up with this recording pretty much since Mark broke up with Ashley. It's fuckin' annoying. It basically says that it's a voice message reminder for Mark, press 1 to listen to the message or hang up to save it to his mailbox. The message is always the sound of a phone hanging up, so I've perfected the art of pressing 1 and then 3 to delete the message and hang up. Doing all that without looking at the phone. So I did that, sat back on the couch and few seconds later, the phone rang again.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hi Angel Boi, is Mark there? It's Ashley."

"No he's not."

"Are you sure?"

I swear the minute she said that I knew I'd reached my boiling point.

"Yes I'm sure. Are you the one doing this recording thing? It's very annoying."

"What recording?"

"I pick up the phone and the minute I say hello, this recording starts..."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"It's annoying anyway. Please stop it. Mark's not here. And you know what? I don't think he wants to talk to you anyway. I'll tell him you called. Not that it'll matter because he doesn't care. It's stupid. Please stop calling and hanging up. And stop sending these stupid messages. Have a good night, Ashley," I hung up.

That connection I felt with her a few days ago ... gone. We are no longer brother and sister in the battle against guys who are jerks. We're enemies now and she will be treated accordingly. Any sort of sympathy I had for her is gone and only pity remains. Loathing maybe. Unable to hear the phone ring and not think that it's probably her, ready to hang up at the sound of my voice.