As Time Passes By

Chapter twenty-six: Never After

Noelle

March 1st, 2023

I couldn't take it anymore. I'm feeling unsafe here. I want to leave.

Packing my bags on my fourteenth birthday was a pain in the gut. I am leaving this place behind once and for all.

Memories here haunted me as if wanting me to live miserably.

The humiliation and pain had been too much on me. I have to leave. I need to.

I zipped my suitcase shut, my body aching with fatigue while I flung myself onto the nearby couch.

Leaving back to England is hard for me; but it's for the best.

Noah and the Armstrongs were targeting me, and it's not safe for me to be here anymore.

My true country, my home, all driven away by some crazy family who's trying to take down mine.

Leaving Anne, Ruby, and even Celine unexpectedly is a jolt of electricity shoots through me once they realize I left them.

The door opened, revealing Layla coming in. Her hair was up in a messy ponytail, and her face was disappointed.

"The plane is booked." She said with desperation on her tone. I could see the tears pricking on her eyes, and my gaze softened.

I stepped in, pulling her in a tight embrace. My small frame hugged her like a baby.

"I'm sowwy.." I said, my eyes watery with tears.

"I don't want to leave, but Layla–"

"No, no. Ellie. It's not your fault. It's ours. If only I was more cautious enough, I would be." She marked, her voice becoming more betrayed by the desperation.

She pursed her lips, making a faint smile before kissing my forehead gently.

"C'mon, now, you still have a birthday to celebrate." She teased, but her tone was desperate.

I took my suitcase and followed Layla out of the safe house. The place felt empty as soon my foot stepped out of the porch.

I look like one last look of the view behind me. The house assembled its memories from me stepping inside and now me leaving it all alone.

"I'll be back before you know it.." I muttered to myself, feeling a tear spilling to my cheek.

I hopped into the car and placed my suitcase aside. The coolness was defending the hot summer.

As we were about to take a turn, I screamed in excitement out of nowhere.

"Oh my gosh! Can we get ice cream? Pweaseee?" I asked cutely, my eyes pleading like a cat.

Layla stopped her tracks as if there was an accident happening in front of us.

Her face turned into a scrowl when she realized what I only wanted.

She parked her car in a scheduled area even when it said no parking. Dumbass.

"You almost have us killed, you bitch." Layla blurted as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

"Aren't we gonna talk about you parking in a–"

"Shut up and just get what you want." She cuts me off after she opened the door for me. What a.. gentleman?

We entered the shop and my nose sniffed the cool smell of ice cream twitching on my nose.

"What flavor?" Layla asked sternly while she took out her wallet from her bag.

"Mint chocolate pweaseee." I replied, a cute smile on my face.

****

After that mint chocolate toothpaste time, we were back on the road. I kept on talking to Layla about random things that were clearly nonsense.

Deep down, I'm doing it for the memories to keep in my mind. I won't see her for months or even years. I wasn't safe here, and they know it.

I still have a lot of dreams to catch up. And I'm not stopping until I could name it 'I made it in life'.

The car pulled down to the airport, my hands fidgeting in uneasiness.

It was my first time flying alone back to England. It felt like I was a child who transformed into an adult but never has a mature experience.

Layla walked me to the terminal gate I was in and gave me one last hug. Tears began to spike on my eyes and rolled down onto my cheeks when I felt her warm embrace.

"Promise me you'll be fine, okay?" She asked as her voice broke.

I nodded, my face red and my nose puffy.

"I'm gonna miss you.." I sobbed, my mouth trying to form a smile but the emotions wouldn't let me.

"Now, go! Prove you'll be fine!" She cried, but she was encouraging me to enter the plane with no fear or remorse.

I ran to my gate, taking one last glance before I got to the outside of the terminal.

This isn't the end of me, yet.

I'm never stopping even when it costs my life...

End of Season One...