Open Your Eyes

Life Got In The Way

18 years before the crash

"Do you have to go to college Mer?" Molly asked from the end of my bed.

I was busy packing all the stuff that I wanted to take into my bags. Molly was sitting beside my bag and Lexie was lying on my bed, with her feet up on my headboard busy on her phone.

"Who are you messaging Lex?" I ask sitting down beside her.

"No one."

"Who is it?"

"A friend."

"What's his name?"

"Jack."

"Oh is he cute?"

"I suppose."

"Is he more than a friend?"

"I hope so. I hope he will be."

"Oh that's cute. I'm happy for you Lexie; I'm just disappointed that I won't be here to see this unfolding. I'll be off at college."

"You don't have to go Mer." Molly says as she plonks herself between Lexie and I. "You can stay here and watch Lexie and I grow up."

"I wish I could but I leave for college tomorrow morning. I'm growing up and you'll do your growing up without me helping you but remember that I am only a phone call away and when I get the chance I will come home and visit both of you girls."

The three of us were now lying with our feet up on the headboard. I was in the middle and had both of them at my sides. I was going to miss all these moments. Watching them grow up, finding love and losing it. Our late night chats about boys, school and friendship. I wish I could be here to watch them grow up but I was doing my own growing up. I kissed both of their temples.

"Meredith Derek is here." I hear Dad say. The three of us look at the doorway and we see Dad with Derek.

I smile at the two of them.

"We'll leave you too it Mer." The girls say getting up and leaving my room with Dad. Derek walks in and lies beside me.

"You ready to leave?"

"I guess. I still have to pack my clothes and the last of whatever I want to bring with me."

"Well I gave up on packing because I wanted to come and see you." He says. I look at him and he is smiling at me.

I lean towards his lips and kiss them. "Do you want to go for a drive? Go and watch the ferry boats, eat something. I want to take a break from packing."

"Sounds like a good plan. We could go to the carnival, the one that is in town."

"Hmm expensive rides and fried food sounds like a plan but I want to be with you and only you tonight. Spend our last night in Seattle together because this is where our memories were made."

"Okay I'll go and grab my gear and I will meet you outside in 5 minutes."

He left and I grabbed my gear. I said goodbye to everyone and waited outside for Derek. Climbing into his car he drove towards the docks and to our favourite lookout watching the ferryboats.

"So I grabbed blankets and snacks and we can just lay here for as long as you want." He tells me.

Laying on the grass in front of the car it felt perfect. We were under the stars and the night was cloudless and it was a warm night, a beautiful warm night it was perfect.