Sunsets and storms ✓

Chapter 38

MATTHEW

For the second time this month I had to say bye to Megan. Only this time it wasn't me who is leaving, but her. The last few days we've spend a lot of time just with the two of us. We would still watch Louis, but mum made sure we could go out to lunch together or just walk around town and be on our own.

It was amazing having Megan at my house. My family took her right in and I was super happy seeing how mum and Megan hit it off. I was kind of scared mum might not like her, although I would have no reason why I should have been anxious since mum loved Megan from the first moment I told her about Meg.

No matter how great it was to have her being part of my family, I also craved some alone time with her. We still had a lot to discuss about going forward with this relationship. We both want to do everything in our power to make this work and I love her too much to ever let her go, but we also need to be realistic. We both have busy schedules and it won't always be possible to see each other every week. For now we said we would see each other every other weekend, it's only about three hours between our places and I know I'd drive triple that distance just to see her face and hold her close to me.

I'm anxious about how things will go, but I trust her. I trust her with my life, with Louis' and Lily's lives. But I also know that sometimes love isn't enough to keep people around. My parents were in love once. And he still left her with a baby. I told mom I was afraid I would turn into my dad at some point, and time after time she reassures me that I'm nothing like him. she always says the only thing I got from him was my last name, and even that is no longer his. I do look a lot like mum and our personalities tend to be similar as well, so I just hope I'm equally as loving and caring as mum.

Watching Megan pack her bags caused a limp to form in my throat. I have to swallow a few times to steady myself. I've never really gotten emotional. The only time I really got sad the past few years was when I had to move out when Louis was just born. Seeing my girl packing her stuff to go back home, it's really getting to me.

I sure as hell wasn't planning on getting emotional today and I'm honestly surprised by it. maybe it's because I know I will be leaving this house as well in only two weeks. Evan is already back at our place, but I cannot wait until my internship starts to move back. I want to make a good impression on my boss. In the architecture field, recommendations are everything. although I guess it's important everywhere. If I can make a good impression and build my experiences, it will be much easier to find a decent job. And since I plan on being closer to my family and to Megan next year, I will need all the help I can get to land myself a decent job.

Megan already said bye to the rest of my family. Mum told her she is welcome to come by whenever she wants and Louis gave her a big hug and asked her to come bike with him again soon. Seeing how much Louis grew to love Megan in just a few weeks makes my heart beat faster. She's everything to me and my family loving her only confirms I did the right thing in being with her.

"Good luck on your first day, baby. I'll call you every day because I don't think I can go without hearing your voice."

"I don't think I can go without you at all."

Why did she have to say that? Now I'm definitely going to cry.

"I'll see you soon, okay? And if you need me there I'll come by sooner."

Seeing her drive out of our street and around the corner, I know this is what my life will be like the next 9 months. We will have a weekend together, only to have to say goodbye all over again each time.

I join mum in the kitchen while she's cooking dinner. The past two weeks, Megan and I cooked dinner a lot. Megan had a lot of recipes from Adele, and I have just enough cooking skills to keep people alive.

"I sure didn't miss the cooking every night."

I give her a weak smile. I want to be happy and laugh with my family, but I also feel like part of me left. I know I can be happy without Megan around me. I was for years. But she adds something to my life that just makes it so much more special.

"Don't worry about it too much, honey. I see the way you two look at each other. I saw how you make each other smile and I can honestly say I've never seen you happier."

"I am happier. She brings something out in me that I haven't felt in a very long time."

"Just enjoy your relationship, honey. You're still young. You have the rest of your life to worry about things."

"I know. I just have been thinking about the future a lot. My future with Megan."

"Tell me about it."

"One day, mum, one day I'll ask her to marry me and make her my wife. One day we'll have the cutest kids and Louis and Lily will be an uncle and aunt. I want to spend the rest of my life with her on my side."