In The Darkest Hour

Part One - Chapter Twenty-Nine: Goodbye Barcelona

“Call me when you arrive,” Tracy whispered hugging Isla, she couldn’t believe that her daughter had agreed to go to Australia and she was sure that it would do Isla good and she wouldn’t have to think about what had happened.

Isla nodded her head and closed her eyes, she wanted to get better and she was sure that it couldn’t happen in Barcelona with everything still so fresh.

Montserrat had dropped off the cheque for her compensation and Isla had been surprised by how much the hospital had given it; it would come in handy when she tried to rebuild her life.

Isla pulled back from her mother and took a deep breath before moving to hug her father, things would be better this way and she would come back and visit when she could.

“Be safe,” Theodore murmured a little sad that both of his children would be gone, he hated to think what would happen and he hoped that Isla would be happy.

Jeremy would look after her and she wouldn’t be so alone in Sydney, she would rebuild after what had happened and Theodore could only hope that this was what she wanted.

Tracy smiled watching Isla for a moment before her eyes spotted the one person that she didn’t want to ever see again; she gritted her teeth wondering what was going on.

“What is he doing here?” Tracy hissed not liking the fact that Gerard had shown up, she wasn’t happy that Isla had been to see him and she didn’t want him hanging around her daughter.

Isla smiled looking at Gerard, she was surprised that he had come at all and she knew that this was the last time that she would probably see him; it made her chest ache at the thought but she didn’t want him waiting for her to come back.

Walking away from her family, Isla headed over to Gerard wanting to say goodbye before she left for her flight; she could only imagine how he felt right now about all of this.

Gerard took a deep breath as he watched Isla approach him, it had only been a couple of days since he had last seen her but it still hurt to think that he might not ever see her again.

Isla looked beautiful in her white cami top and slim boot cut jeans paired with white flat ballerina pumps, Gerard knew that it would be hot in Australia and he wished that he could leave with her but he was still tied to Barcelona.

“You didn’t have to come Gerard,” Isla murmured moving to hug him, she knew he had training with a match the next day and she wanted him rested for it.

Gerard wrapped his arms tightly around Isla and held her close, he peeked over at her family knowing that her parents despised him and he didn’t blame them.

“I did,” Gerard whispered not wanting to let Isla leave, he wished she would stay but he knew that she had to do this; it didn’t make any of this easier and he wanted nothing more than to drowned his sorrows.

The one thing that stopped him was the fact that he had promised Isla that he wouldn’t, Gerard needed to be strong for Milan’s sake and his son needed him.

“I’m sorry Geri,” Isla whispered holding onto him, they didn’t have much time and she still had to get to her gate with the rest of her family; she was leaving and nothing was going to change her mind on that.

Gerard squeezed his eyes shut, his heart crumbling in his chest at the idea that this could be it; he had cost himself Isla and he would never be able to forgive himself for this mess.

“I’ll wait for you,” Gerard mumbled looking down at Isla, he couldn’t see himself with anyone else and he would spend the rest of his life waiting for her to come back if that was what it took.

Isla pulled away from Gerard and shook her head, she didn’t want him wasting more time on her; he’d been happy with Kathleen and she wanted that for him again, she didn’t know if she would ever come back right now.

“Please don’t… I want you to find someone and be happy,” Isla pleaded ignoring then lurch that her stomach gave, she wanted him to be happy and she had no idea what would happen in the future but Gerard deserved happiness just as much as she did.

Gerard opened his mouth to say something but decided against it, he didn’t want Isla feeling guilty when it was him at fault; he knew what he wanted and she was about to get on a plane and leave him behind for good.

“Look after yourself,” Gerard said instead, he wanted her to have her happy ending even if his was about to leave with her; he didn’t deserve anything more for what he had done and he hoped that she would be okay.

Isla stared at Gerard, she could see that he still blamed himself for what had happened no matter how much she had said that he wasn’t the reason; he never seemed to believe her.

“And you,” Isla replied swallowing as she felt tears build in her eyes, she moved to hug Gerard again as she pushed down the doubts about what she was doing.

Isla needed to do this and there was no way that she could stay in Barcelona, it hurt to be in the city where people wanted her dead; she had to move on and she wanted to be happy.

“I love you Isla,” Gerard whispered as his own tears started to fall, he held onto Isla wondering how he would ever cope without her; he didn’t want to say goodbye.

Isla didn’t reply, she knew what would happen if she said those words back and it would only lead to heartache; she had to get on that plane no matter how much she loved Gerard.

Opening her mouth to say something, Isla was interrupted when Kristen called to her; she looked back at her aunt knowing that this was it.

“Goodbye Gerard,” Isla whispered making sure that she had everything in her brown plait satchel, she looked at him wondering if this was truly it; she would always support Barcelona and that would have to be enough.

Isla took a step away from Gerard, she watched him wanting nothing more than to change her mind but if she did then she wouldn’t be able to fix herself; she would break and that wasn’t something that she could let happen again.

“Goodbye Isla,” Gerard replied offering her a weak smile, he slowly followed her back to her family avoiding looking at any of them; he was sure they all hated him for what he had done.

Isla smiled at her aunt and uncle before they started for the security check-point, she peeked back at Gerard wanting to have a good final memory of him; she paused for a moment before she rushed back to him.

Gerard barely had a chance to catch Isla as she throw herself at him, she kissed him making him hold her knowing that that this wasn’t going to change anything.

“I love you too,” Isla whispered in his ear when she pulled away, she smiled at him weakly before she walked away knowing that she would have regretted it if she hadn’t kissed him.

Tracy smiled triumphantly at the fact that Isla was still leaving, she couldn’t believe that the footballer had turned up and she was glad that it hadn’t changed anything; she turned to look at Gerard and felt herself falter.

Gerard looked completely devastated at the fact that Isla was gone, it made Tracy feel off that he looked like that instead of happy that Isla hadn’t changed her mind.

Gerard couldn’t bring himself to look away as Isla disappeared, he wanted to collapse but reminded himself that he had let her go so that she could be happy; Isla had done so much for him and it was only fair that he returned the favour now.