Tangled Affections

43.

Freen shook her head with a small, sad smile. "You won't lose me, Becky. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere. I love you, and nothing can change that. We'll still see each other every day at the university. We can meet at our favorite spot, sit together, and talk about everything like we always do. This doesn't have to change that."

Becky was silent for a moment, letting Freen's words sink in. The fear in her eyes slowly began to fade, replaced by a glimmer of hope. She took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Promise?" she asked, her voice still shaky but a bit steadier.

Freen smiled warmly, squeezing Becky's hands. "I promise. We'll meet every day, just like always."

Becky exhaled deeply, her shoulders relaxing a little. "Okay... okay, I'll go. I'll try this, for you... and for me."

Freen's smile widened, and she pulled Becky into a tight hug, feeling the tension melt away from her body. She buried her face in Becky's shoulder, inhaling her familiar scent, knowing she'd miss it terribly. "I'm so proud of you, Becky. You're so strong," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion.

As they pulled away from each other, Becky gave a small nod, wiping the lingering tears from her eyes. She glanced over at her packed suitcase, her lips pressed together in a thin line. "I guess I should get going then," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Freen nodded, swallowing the heaviness in her chest. "Yeah, I guess so." She helped Becky with her suitcase, making sure everything was in order. The room already felt emptier without Becky's things scattered around, and Freen's heart ached with the thought of coming back to this room without her.

Rose knocked on the door softly and peeked in, her eyes cautiously hopeful. "Are you ready, Becky?"

Becky nodded, gripping the handle of her suitcase. She turned back to Freen one last time, her eyes filled with both fear and hope. "I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked, her voice small but full of longing.

Freen gave her a reassuring smile, her heart breaking a little. "Tomorrow, at our spot," she promised.

Rose stepped into the room, giving Freen a small, appreciative nod, sensing the difficulty of the moment. She took Becky's suitcase and led the way out, leaving Freen standing in the doorway. Becky lingered for a moment longer, her eyes locked on Freen's, as if trying to memorize her face.

"Go, Becky," Freen said softly, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill. "I'll be right here waiting for you."

Becky nodded, finally turning away and following Rose out the door. Freen watched as they walked down the hallway, her heart feeling heavier with each step they took away from her. She waited until they disappeared around the corner before slowly closing the door.

As the door clicked shut, the silence in the room felt deafening. Freen looked around, her eyes lingering on the empty space where Becky's things had been. The emptiness seemed to stretch on forever, and she felt a hollow ache settle deep in her chest.

She sat back down on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the floor. She had done the right thing—she knew she had. Becky deserved a chance at family, at love, at healing. But that didn't make it any easier to let her go. The thought of not having Becky's laughter filling the room, of not waking up to see her beside her, was almost unbearable.

For the first time, Freen allowed herself to cry. She pulled her knees to her chest and let the tears fall, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. She wasn't crying out of regret—she'd made the choice for Becky's happiness. She was crying because she already missed her, missed the warmth of her presence, the sound of her voice, the way she made everything feel complete.

The room felt colder, emptier, without Becky there. Freen took a deep breath, wiping her tears away. She needed to be strong, not just for herself, but for Becky too. She would keep her promise—they would see each other every day, and she would wait as long as it took for Becky to feel safe and loved.

Freen sat there, hugging herself tightly, her heart aching but filled with determination. She knew this wasn't the end. It was just the beginning of a new chapter, and she would be there for Becky every step of the way, no matter how long it took.

"Tomorrow," Freen whispered to herself, staring out the window with a small, bittersweet smile. "I'll see you tomorrow, Becky. And every day after that."

............