I've Known You (An Ashley Purdy Love Story)

Chapter Four: Moving On

Chapter four! Woo, so let’s take a step back into Ash’s’ point of view for a little bit here. Hope you like it!

~Missouri~

I saw staying long enough for her funeral, and then I was going to leave. I walked through the front door of the house, and as I looked into the empty room, so many memories came flooding back, I could no longer take it. I switch in my head flipped, and I lost control. I flipped over the coffee table, sending it and the papers on it flying into the air. I walked over to my desk, all my papers full of writing and poems scattered across it. I took one look at the title of one paper, it had been a song I was writing for her called ‘Die for You’. Just seeing it infuriated me. I kicked the leg of the desk hard enough for the wood to snap, and the desk toppled to the ground.

I broke down again, bracing myself against the wall, my head falling into my hand, and I let tears fall. I pounded my fist into the wall, sending a frame crashing to the ground. I looked down to see shards of glass splayed everywhere. I bent down to look at the frame. I saw that it was a picture of me and Evangeline, when we went to L.A. together. That trip was for business, and I didn’t want to be alone for four weeks, so I paid for her ticket out. We were on the beach when she snapped the photo, the sunlight glistening off our heads, she kissing my cheek, and I had the most idiotic, love struck smile on my face. I sank to the ground, pulling my knees to my chest and putting my head down, clutching the picture to my heart. I heard a knock at the door; I looked up to see it opening slowly, and as Alma stealthily placed her head through the crack.

“Oh Ash” she said as she opened the door all the way, her eyes full of hurt.

“I can’t do this Alma,” I told her quietly “There are too many memories here”

“I know” she frowned and walked over to me, stepping over papers and broken glass as she did so. “When are you leaving?” she asked, choking back tears and bending down to my level.

“After her funeral” I replied in a whisper.

“You gonna need any help packing?” her voice cracked as she asked.

“No,” I said plainly “I want to go through everything by myself one last time” I looked at Alma straight in the eyes for the first time since she got here “Please don’t cry” I laughed as I cried tears of my own.

“I’m just-” she sniffled and wiped her eyes quickly “We’ve already lost Evan, and now, well now you’re leaving too” more tears fell, faster than she could wipe them away “You’re one of my best friends Ash, and I feel like I’m losing everyone too quickly”

“I know Alma” I said regrettably “I just, I just can’t stay here. As much as I love you guys, I can’t move on and stay here at the same time” I sighed.

“I know. That’s why I came” she laughed as she wiped more tears “I didn’t know if I would get to say goodbye to you or not”

I laughed “I wouldn’t do that to you guys, I want to move to L.A., but I’m not going to go without saying goodbye to you all”

She giggled and smiled. And then looked around at my mess “Are you gonna be okay Ashley?” she asked finally.

“Yea” I breathed “I’m gonna start packing in the morning. And then I’m going to Evan’s funeral, and then I’m leaving” I looked at Alma and smiled “Which means you all can deal with me for the next two or three weeks”

“Ashley” she placed her hand on my leg “You know if you need help, the girls and I wouldn’t mind” she looked around the house again.

“Thanks Alma, I really appreciate it” I hugged her. She then patted my shoulder and went out the door.