K I S S • L. Hughes

Chapter • Thirty Eight

Ellerie's POV
I honestly don't think I've every cried so hard, so much, so often, in my life. We've even said I love you, but now we're saying goodbye. I held my head in my hands, sitting in my lonely room, its empty, only an air mattress left on the floor.

I stood up, walking down the hall. There was nothing on the walls, the whole house was dark. It felt almost eerie, standing in the empty house I had once called home. I entered Seamus's room, almost expecting him to be sitting there, but he too was gone and his room was left empty.

I sat in the center of his room looking around, taking it all in. I laid down on my back, needing to take a moment to think everything over; how the hell did I get here.

"Elle, honey sit down." My mom said when I walked in after my last day of school. I had walked through the garage where boxes were packed left and right.

"What's going on mom?" I asked franticly.

"I'm opening a store front in Paris." She said, picking at her fingers. "So I've bought a town house there and I'm starting to move."

"When were you going to tell me?" I asked quietly, tears threatening to spill.

"I didn't want to tell you unless it was going to happen, I just found out a few days ago but I wanted to tell you in person." She said coming to hug me.

"Do- am I going too?" I asked weakly.

"Well I still have the house in Florida and I'm keeping it, but you're an adult now, your father and I can't force you to go anywhere. But you will always have a home with me." She answered, holding my hands.

"Ok." I answered quietly. "I need a minute."

"I'm so sorry Elle." She said as I waled towards the stairs.

"I know." I answered, walking away.

I went into my room and called Luke, not knowing what else to do.

"Hey Ellie." He said, he sounded nervous.

"Hey, so I have something I need to tell you." I said, my voice breaking slightly.

"I do too." He breathed out. "But you go first."

"No you go mines a big deal." I whispered.

"Oh um ok." He started. "We need to break up."

I stayed silent, letting his words hit my ears. In a time I need him the most he's telling me we need to break up.

He spoke up again after my silence. "We both have so much going on this summer, we're barely gonna have time for each other and you're going to school in Georgia and I'll be in Michigan."

And Im moving to Paris, I thought to myself. I didn't say that out loud.

"Ok." Was all I could squeak out. The other line was silent and so was I.

"I love you. I always will." Luke said, his voice sounding weak.

"Good bye Luke." I said, then hung up the phone.

Over the last few days I've been packing, getting ready for Florida. My horses have been sent down there, getting ready for the show season coming up. I've felt like a robot the last few days, mindlessly packing the last of my things and fitting them into my truck.

I can't believe it ended this way, nine months of my life, over because of a phone call. Maybe one day my life won't be such a mess, one day.

A/n so this is where I decided to take this story. Its part of a larger series that I'm beginning to write, so this is not the end for Ellerie and Luke. If your interested check out the other two books of Afterglow, Haunting Memories - book one and Last Call - book three. I hope you enjoyed and are as excited as I am for their part two. Much love xx