Across the Ocean - Kyra Cooney-Cross

Chapter Twenty Seven - Escape

Two months, eight weeks, four days, five hours, and twenty-three minutes. That's how long it had been since I felt Kyra's lips against mine. How long it had been since i'd heard her voice, the words "I love you too okay? So much it hurts," echoed in my mind constantly. 

The memory of her smile, her smell, and everything about her haunted me every single day. I knew the sacrifice I was making by leaving Kyra, but I hadn't fully comprehended just how much it would hurt.

When I arrived at Heathrow, I had already received a message from Charlie.

 "Ella, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, but I just found out. Laura is home, she's had the baby. She was a lot further along than she thought." 

That message solidified my decision. I knew it would hurt me, but it would help Laura and the innocent baby that was getting pushed into my old life.

I got to Sydney late on a Sunday night and called Charlie. He confirmed that Laura had run away to the city to have her baby, my father was furious. When I finally reached her, she looked at ease, as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. 

We hatched a plan to stay hidden away in an Airbnb, out of Dad and Kyle's reach. We didn't have much. I had bought my ticket with Kyra's credit card, something I was grateful she didn't care about. 

She'd pleaded me to come home, forgiving me in lost of hundreds of messages she'd sent me and she'd left voicemails and called countless times, but I couldn't bring myself to reply. I knew I had hurt her deeply, and I was too ashamed to face her.

Our funds were running low, and my niece was almost six weeks old. We needed to move again. This time, we were heading to Melbourne. I had reached out to my mum's sister, our Aunt Zoe, who I had never met. 

She agreed that we needed to get out of Sydney before Dad found us, and when we arrived in Melbourne , it was hard this city reminded me so much of the life I had left behind for Laura. 

It was bittersweet, but Aunt Zoe was amazing. She was much younger than my mum and was a lot like me. She had left Hope Town at seventeen and started her own business, which now had her living in a high-rise apartment in the city.

The moment we took the elevator up to the 32nd floor, I knew exactly who my aunt was. She was me. She had known that there was something more out there for her and she had gone after it. She had made it out and she looked great doing it.

We slipped into Melbourne easily. Zoe was so laid-back and chilled, and she spoiled us really. Laura was struggling a lot, and we tried out best to help but Zoe decided it was time for Laura to have a day off, so she surprised her with a trip to the beach for some "Zoe and Lozzy time." I stayed in the beautiful apartment, happily doting over Laura's special baby girl.

By the time I had made my decision to stay in Australia for Laura, I had to delete everything. I blocked Kyra's number, Steph's, and Dean's, basically anyone who could remind me of the girl I loved. 

I deleted every app and completely cut myself off from the life I had built. It was excruciating, but necessary. I'd pleaded with Laura to not tell me any news, not one football score or even to mention it to Zoe, I couldn't keep reliving the pain. 

I missed Kyra with every fibre of my being, but I knew I had to be strong for Laura and her baby.

The city of Melbourne, with its bustling streets and towering buildings, was yet to feel like home, although the busyness and the hustle and bustle seemed to help us find comfort hoping to blend in.

I sat in Aunt Zoe's apartment, watching my niece sleep peacefully, I allowed myself a moment of reflection. I had lost so much, but I had also gained something precious. 

A new sense of purpose and a new family to protect. And in that moment, I knew that despite the heartache and the sacrifices along with the now sleepless night, that deep down I made a mistake but mistakes take us on journey's and in the end I knew it would be okay. 

The next morning, I was stir crazy. The baby cried all night long, and I was hungry and delirious and I needed fresh air. I took the baby on my hip and managed the energy to get downstairs. Melbourne's weather was confusing, yesterday it was bright and I'd worn shorts all day long. Today it was windy, and as the wind tickled my nose I was instantly shot back to London. 

I smiled, and as I walked down the street, my delirium set in, I was smiling like a fool envisioning. The cobble stone street, with cathedrals and all the smiling faces of the locals I'd loved so much. I looked down at the baby kissing her gently on the side of her face. 

"I'll show you it someday, there's more out there for you. You're going to see it all" I smiled as I rounded the corner to my favourite café. Higher Ground, on Little Bourke. As I entered the shop, I was greeted by the now familiar face of Tiff the waitress on shift. 

"Morning Ella" she smiled as she walked past with a plate full of Chilli Eggs on Toast. 

I smiled in reply "Good Morning" I smiled just as the baby started to lightly cry. 

I bounced up and down sitting down at a table just by the massive arched window. I took out my phone, just checking the time. It was early, but I didn't mind. 

I ordered myself a latte, I hadn't ordered my regular since London. It wasn't a conscious decision just something I did without thought. As Tiff brought over my coffee, I heard an group pile in from behind me. I didn't take any notice other than to move my chair so they could squeeze past. 

"Is that Ella?" I heard voice question just from beyond, it was a sweet soft British accent fill my ears.

I spun around, just in a haze. Just standing there shocked was Alessia, Katie and Caitlin. I parted my lips, my breath finally hitched. 

We stood all in silence, their eyes darting from me, to the baby now fast asleep cradled in my arm resting on my left knee. Before I could even grasp what was happening in front of me. My absolute nightmare I thought, or maybe a dream. I wasn't sure. 

A hand pushed against Alessia's shoulder and emerging from the triangle of shock. There she was, her face blank, my heart crushed. 

It'd now been two months, eight weeks, four days, five hours, and fort-six minutes. Since I'd seen her smiling face, I'd dreamt about this, i'd thought about this scenario in so many different ways.

Except I'd pictured us years from now. Her happy, with a family of her own. I'd bump into her, casually and her smile would tell me everything. That I didn't need to worry, she'd found peace.

A bleak contrast to the reality in front of me, her eyes full of tears, her mouth full of silence. Not even a tug of a smile on her lips.