Baggage

Part 10

Shay's Point Of View:

Shay woke up feeling different; instead of feeling empty when she woke up; she felt completely new as if every bad thought every bad feeling she had been carrying was washed away and what was left was the happiness she longed for.

Shay left the warmth of the blankets to embrace her as she fluttered her eyes open; she couldn't help but feel her eyelids become heavy and her nose stuffy. The memories of what happened last night had run through her head making a wave a realization hit her but seconds later she pushed those thoughts away. She immediately smiled to see James already awake to stare at her; Shay smiled back melting in the warmth "Good morning" Shay greeted her eyes locked on James "Morning

Shay thought about this moment and how precious it was to her right now; how amazing it felt to be right where she was right now "Your eyes are puffy and red" Shay raised her hand to her face to feel the swelled and puffy eyes she had "It should go away after a shower and a bit more sleep" "Sleep? it's our last day here and our first day as a couple, we should do something fun something we'd remember" Shay smirked at James as he continued to stare at her "I think we did enough things to remember don't you think?" James pouted his lips at her giving in "Fine"

Shay moved her body upwards towards James placing her lips on his cheek; James smiled at the sensation "We'll do something; I mean we can't just stay in bed all day" "Yasss!" James exclaimed as he shot up out of bed bouncing around fist-pumping the air "Where on earth do you get all this energy from so early in the morning?" Shay saw how nervous and awkward James got after doing that; he scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "That's a lot coming from the person who usually wakes up early every morning" "That's a lot coming from the person who can wake up whatever time they" "Oi, my job does require me to get up early" Shay continued to keep a sly smile on her face as she leaned back into bed "Sure"

After Shay and James stayed in bed a little longer the day got later and decided it was now time to actually get up instead of talking about it "What will you do once you get home?" Shay asked as they began packing their bags full of each other's belongings "Probably get back to working; I've been behind with a lot of unfinished albums that are upcoming".

"How about you?" Shay thought for a moment before answering "I'll be going back to saving people's lives" Shay held the most confident pose she could think of  "You think you're funny don't you?" "I know so". The warmth Shay felt being around James was something she would have never thought she'd feel not now not ever after her husband's passing

In the end, they never did go anywhere and just stayed in Shay's hotel room; it wasn't being lazy that made them stay but just their pure presence that compelled them to not want to go anywhere without each other. The car drive to the airport was quiet; other than how they acted this morning the atmosphere was tense and monotone. Shay felt as if she were leaving for another world driving next to James in the passenger seat alongside him; she knew what was about to happen and with every fiber of her being she hoped for a different ending.

"Well this is it, this is our stop," James said as he looked at his passport and ticket. A small paper held so much baggage "Unfortunately it is" Shay said as she held onto that same passport and ticket just with different words. Shay felt her heart sink into her stomach feeling every wound this would bring but; knew that she still had him and would have it this way than not have met him in the first place. Before James said anything further he grabbed Shay and held her tightly not wanting to let go; Shay returned the warm embrace feeling every emotion pour out of it "We'll make this work" Shay whispered in his ear; every word she uttered echoed in his heart "I hope it does" he whispered back.

James kissed Shay once more on her lips before leaving to get on his plane "I'll call you" he shouted before he was completely out of her sight; in every which way Shay had hoped he's come along with her but she knew they lived two very different lives but that didn't stop the thought from coming in her mind; This trip was something Shay will always hold dear to her and wouldn't trade it for the world now she felt free from her baggage.