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Two: Goodbyes and Hellos

Julie hurriedly zipped her final bag, her hands shaking with the weight of what she was about to do. She glanced at her cracked phone screen again—it was now 5:32 AM. Her flight was in less than an hour and a half, and the realization hit her that this was the beginning of a new chapter. She paused for a second, staring blankly at the clothes strewn about the room, some of them remnants of her childhood. She inhaled deeply, trying to steady her nerves. Marty, her good friend and travel companion, had texted her earlier to confirm the ride to the airport.

This was it.
She was really leaving.

Down the hall, Jack sat on the edge of his bed, lacing up his dark brown boots, his heart heavy with a sadness he wasn't ready to confront. Dressed in his usual black T-shirt and dark denim jeans, he looked every bit as put together as he wanted to feel. But the reality was far from that. His red button-up was an afterthought, thrown over his shirt to add a layer of comfort, as if the extra clothing could shield him from the ache in his chest. The ache of losing his sister to the world, watching her step away from the safety of the only life they had known since their parents died.

Jack's eyes darted to the door across the hall—Julie's door. He sighed, the sound heavy and full of emotions he could barely articulate. He was supposed to protect her, to keep her safe. But how could he do that now? How could he let her walk out without knowing when she'd be back or if she'd need him? He stood up, his body feeling weighed down by the emotional burden, and slowly walked towards her room. With a gentle knock, he hesitated before stepping inside.

"Come in!" Julie's voice was chipper, but there was an undercurrent of exhaustion, both from packing and from the emotional toll of saying goodbye.

When Jack entered the room, he was met with the sight of her sitting on her suitcase, desperately trying to close it. It was comically overstuffed, and yet, all Jack could see was his little sister trying to handle the weight of the world by herself. He couldn't stop himself; he moved forward and knelt beside her, gripping the edges of the suitcase to help press it down. Julie smiled softly at him as they struggled together, finally managing to zip it shut.

They cheered, but the joy was short-lived. Julie caught the look in Jack's eyes, the sadness he couldn't hide, even behind his teasing smile.

She reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder, intending to say something comforting, but Jack's heart was already heavy with words unspoken. He gently shrugged off her touch, not in anger, but in quiet resignation. His voice was softer than she expected when he finally spoke.

"Julie," he started, his words dragging, as if they were painful to admit, "I know I can't change your mind, but... I don't want you to go." His voice cracked at the end, a rare show of vulnerability.

Julie's expression softened, and without hesitation, she wrapped her arms tightly around her brother. "I'll come back to visit, Jack," she whispered, holding on as if she could make the promise last forever. But they both knew it was a weak assurance, one that couldn't quite fill the void her leaving would create.

Jack held on to her for longer than he intended, burying his face in her shoulder, his chest heaving slightly as he fought back tears. Julie was the only family he had left, and letting her go felt like he was losing another piece of the life they had once known.

When they finally pulled away, Julie smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I have to go," she said quietly, almost as if she were apologizing for leaving him behind.

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