Baggage

Part Seven

Jame's Point Of View

Buzz Buzz

The echo of Jame's unchecked phone had woken him up from his much-needed slumber; his tired eyes fluttered open as he got up and grabbed his phone.

Camila

He sighed as he opened his phone to see piled-up messages he had received from her; he turned his head to see Shay still fast asleep not hearing a sound. James had gotten up dressed and packed his bag, silently not making any loud noises as he closed the hotel door leaving Shay alone to her own slumber.

His feet left footprints as he walked on the sand making a path he loathed taking; as he walked he read those messages "I'm sorry; can we talk; I'm sorry; I want to get back together; I messed up; It won't happen again; It's not what you think; Please pick up; Where are you, you're overreacting; It was just one mistake; I'm sorry, I want to get back together, it's not what you think"

The memories and recollection of why he even took this vacation in the first place had come back to him, the trance he was in while being with Shay was lifted and he came down back to earth. James stopped in his path looking down at the cold water brushing over his feet; each and every memory he had with Shay ran through his head today. The only thing he could think of right now was how it would be like walking with Shay tonight watching how the rest of the guests still partied late at night making a fire and drinking whatever was held in their glasses.

James sighed as he grabbed his bag tightly, he could leave now and forget about Shay; pretend he never met her while he still had the chance, and go back to Camila. But, there was something inside of him that told him not to, something that was so attracted to her he couldn't shake; nor did he want to.

He took one last look at his phone before shoving it back into his pocket, making his way back to her hotel room. When he got there his bag was already back in his room he found Shay on the ground with teary eyes in the bathroom. "Shay?," he said barely above a whisper; her teary eyes had landed on him as she wiped them away sighing before speaking "Hi James" more tears ran down her delicate features; her pain and grief were too much for her to speak.

James saw the pain and sorrow she had in her and walked towards her; he didn't utter a word as he sat beside her giving her a chance to breathe before speaking again "I'm sorry" Shay shook.

"It's not you; it's me, I should have told you this sooner. The real reason I came here wasn't to take a break from work. I took a break from myself" she paused before speaking again "I had been married for nine months before my late husband passed away; he was a tall man with darker skin than my own. He was a firefighter and was working late one night; normally I would stay up and wait for him but one night the police came knocking on my door and told me...he was in a car accident ...and died" Shay broke into tears as she bite down on her lip keeping her wales in as tears ran down her chin falling on the ground.

James was quiet, he listened "I spent almost all my life running from myself because of it and my family and friends grew incredibly worried practically forcing me to take this trip to forget about him but ..seeing you leave the room had reminded me of the feeling I forgot. Being with you had made me forget it and I couldn't help but feel relieved...I'm sorry"

James continued his silence while Shay tried to keep her calm; he instinctively opened his hand for her to take and so she did holding it tightly as she placed her other hand on top of his. "Thank you" James finally spoke, Shay looked at him confused "For what," she said sniffing her nose "You kept me from making the worst decision ever" he smiled at her as he wiped her tears.

"Everyone's got baggage often we always want it off our backs it kills us but we just need to break free" Shay smiled at Jame's words "Thank you" "Thank you too"