Red Hot! (Sebastian Vettel)

44. A Desperate Man

Three weeks later.....

Libby placed the last book in the cardboard box. She folded the lid shut before sealing it with a strip of brown packing tape. That was it then. Her life here was all packed up and ready to go.

The removals firm were coming the following afternoon to take everything to a storage facility where it would stay until she needed it again. Joel was coming around to wait for them as she was leaving early the following morning to catch a flight to Germany. There she was meeting Daniela and Helena, two of her old colleagues from when she'd worked in Munich.

By a huge coincidence they'd just quit their jobs too, they were going travelling. They were going to work their way around the United States. She'd seen their social media posts and on the spur of the moment had messaged to ask if they fancied a companion. They'd been very happy to let her tag along.

Leaving three weeks before Christmas wasn't really ideal but it was what it was. There would be other Christmas's. Her mum had understood, as had Sadie. Emmie had taken it hard. She couldn't understand why Libby wanted to get away.  

Libby had tried explaining to her that there were just too many memories of Seb there.   He'd spent so much time at hers, she could see him everywhere.  She had to start afresh.    

This gap year would help her to start living again and maybe, just maybe, she'd stop loving him.  Then when she returned she'd move back in with her mum and Emmie and look for a job local to them.

Emmie couldn't understand. She didn't know what it was like to be in love. She'd never allowed herself to love. Perhaps she was the sensible one.

She walked around the house one more time, double checking that everything was packed. It was. Her suitcases she'd be taking with her were in the hallway. She had a sleeping bag which she'd spend the night in on the sofa.

In just twelve hours she would leave here for the final time. She would drive down to Stansted Airport, where she would leave her car. Tom and Sadie were driving up to collect it the following weekend and were taking down to her mum's house.

She gave a big yawn. She was exhausted. She'd worked tirelessly the last few days packing and deep cleaning the place. Joel had popped around at lunchtime to pick up her spare key. He'd tried one last time to persuade her to stay but his efforts were wasted. Her future wasn't here. Staying here would only keep the memories of Seb fresh in her mind.

She thought that maybe she should get an early night. She had to leave here before 6.30 in the morning. It would be a long day. She got undressed and brushed her teeth. Then she went downstairs and climbed into her sleeping bag on the sofa.

She was just about to shut her eyes when her phone beeped. She looked at the screen. She'd received a text from Emmie.

Emmie: Please don't go. Come home. I know you want to get away from there but you don't have travel to the other side of the world. I love you Libby. Please, please don't do this. Xx

Libby sighed.  How many times did she have to tell Emmie that she was doing this? She needed to do this.   She tapped out a reply.

Libby:  Emmie, I'm sorry but my mind is made up.  It's only for a year.  Then I'll be back and you'll be sick of the sight of me.   I can't just carry on with my normal life.  I'm broken Emmie.  A change of scenery will do me good.  You'll be fine.   I'll FaceTime weekly.   I promise you, the time will soon go.   Xx