Dreams Can Come True

71. Moving and leaving

The day flew by like a whirlwind, filled with packing suitcases, moving things, and handling the final details. Elise and I had worked hard to get everything ready for my departure to South Africa. After packing my suitcase, we headed to Elise's apartment, where we moved all her belongings and clothes in preparation for our time apart during my trip. It felt strange and exciting at the same time to see her apartment gradually become her home, filled with her personal items and the warmth of her presence.
The day had flown by, and before we knew it, we were all sitting at the table with Mom and Gordon, surrounded by the smell of delicious food and the sound of excited voices filling the air. Mom had outdone herself with her cooking again, preparing a feast that looked absolutely delicious. There were dishes full of fragrant food, including grilled vegetables, juicy steaks, and flavorful salads. My mouth watered at the sight of all the goodies.Gordon generously poured wine, and we toasted to the upcoming trip to South Africa. The atmosphere was light and cheerful, filled with laughter and excited conversations about what awaited us. Mom, as always, created a warm and welcoming ambiance, her smile beaming with pride as she served us all. Gordon shared stories of his travels to Africa, making us even more excited for our own adventures.
During dinner, Elise and I exchanged meaningful glances from time to time, knowing that we would soon have to miss each other for a while.

It was a warm and cozy atmosphere at the table, with the sound of cheerful conversations and the delicious aroma of food filling the air. Mom looked at Elise kindly and asked with a smile, "How was your first night in the new apartment, dear?" Elise, still a bit tired from the short night, answered with a small smile, "A tiring short night." However, her answer was interrupted by Tom, who couldn't suppress his typical sense of humor. "Eww, Elise, I don't need to know that you christened the apartment all night," he joked, with a grin on his face. Elise's cheeks turned a light shade of red from embarrassment, while I shot Tom an angry look. Sometimes he really went too far with his jokes. But my mom, always the voice of reason, started to laugh. "We understand that all too well," she said with a wink at Gordon, her eyes twinkling with a mischievous glint. "We won't soon forget our first night in this house, will we, darling?" she added. Gordon laughed in agreement and gave my mom a playful nudge. "Mom, gross!" Tom exclaimed, laughing, while everyone at the table burst into laughter.

At the moment of farewell, the atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly became tinged with a hint of melancholy. My mom, always sensitive to emotional moments, started to sniffle a bit as we prepared to leave for the airport. We all gathered at the front door, with our bags and suitcases in hand, ready to begin our journey to South Africa.
The car was already waiting at the door, and my mom, with tears in her eyes, hugged us all tightly before we got in. It was clear that she found it hard to let us go, even though she knew it was only for a temporary period. Her usual cheerful mood was now tinged with a touch of melancholy, and I felt a lump in my throat as I hugged her.
With a mix of emotions, we all got into the car. My mom took a seat next to Gordon, who was behind the wheel, while Elise and I settled in the backseat, accompanied by Tom, who was still making his typical jokes to lighten the mood.

In the car, I sat close to Elise, my hand tightly holding hers. As the car glided along the road, I couldn't help but look at her. Her gaze was fixed on the passing landscape, her thoughts undoubtedly filled with the upcoming week without me. It was hard to face the reality of knowing that we would soon be separated by thousands of miles. I felt a lump in my throat as I stared at her, her features illuminated by the soft light of the passing streetlights.
The idea of having to let her go for a whole week was almost unbearable. Every fiber of my being screamed to keep her close, not to lose sight of her, even for a second. But I knew it had to be done, that this was part of our life as artists, of our dedication to our music. With each mile we got closer to the airport, time seemed to tick faster. I gently squeezed her hand, a silent promise that I would always stand by her side, even when we were physically apart.
It was hard to express the words that haunted my mind. I wanted to tell her how much she meant to me, how I would miss her every second we were apart, but the words stuck in my throat. Instead, I let my hand offer her warmth and support, hoping she would understand what I couldn't say.
The atmosphere was charged with emotion as we got out of the car and our security team greeted us. Jacob opened the door of the car that would take us to the airport, but Elise seemed to hesitate. I tried to encourage her to get in, but then I saw a look in her eyes that made me stop. "Come," I whispered softly, "otherwise we'll miss our flight." But Elise held back, her voice almost inaudible as she replied, "Bill, I think it's better if I stay here. I don't want anyone to see us together. The contract..."
My heart seemed to stop for a moment at her words. The contract, yes. But at that moment, it seemed unimportant compared to the farewell ahead of us. "To hell with the contract," I thought to myself. I wanted to say goodbye properly, not hurriedly and hidden in a car. When she came closer and her lips touched mine, I felt a wave of warmth wash over me. It was a kiss filled with love, a kiss I cherished and that gave me the strength to get through the coming week without her. But at the same time, it felt like a farewell that came too quickly, a moment I wanted to stretch into eternity.
When Jacob tapped me and told me it was time to leave, I felt a stabbing pain in my heart. I didn't want to let her go, not now, not for a whole week. But I knew I had to. With one last hug, one last look into her eyes, I promised her that I would be back soon.
"See you next week," I whispered, my voice heavy with emotion. "See you next week," she replied, her voice breaking with the emotions that overwhelmed her too.
With leaden feet, I turned and got into the car, while Elise stayed behind in the parking lot. My heart felt heavy, filled with a mix of love, longing, and farewell. But I knew this was part of our life, of our journey as artists. And no matter how hard it was, we would get through this together.