Meant to Collide

82. The Last Embrace

Two weeks later, as the soft morning light bathed Jules' house, Dianne gently guided Jim to sit on the stone bench in the garden. "Have a seat, Mummy," she said with a teasing grin. Jim sighed, knowing her tone meant mischief was brewing.

"Tee, you've got that look," Jim muttered, narrowing her eyes.

"Jim, I have a question," Tee said, breaking the quiet.

"About?" Jim replied cautiously.

"Why are you here?" Tee asked with a smirk. "You're such a bother, you know that?"

Jim glared at Tee. "Argh! You butch! Mon's leaving—of course, I have to send her off!" he shot back, playfully smacking Tee on the arm.

Tee chuckled but quickly added, "I feel sorry for your baby, Jim. You're in the last term of your pregnancy and still running around."

"Hmph. Don't bother worrying," Jim retorted, patting her belly. "My baby wants to come along, too."

Inside the house, Jules stepped out, her father following closely. Her eyes sparkled with an odd mix of excitement and melancholy as she faced the group. "Mon, when you're there, you must take proper care of yourself, understood?" Jules' mother said softly, her voice laced with concern.

Before Jules could respond, Dianne interjected, "Mon, Nop called. He said he had work and couldn't make it, but he asked me to send his goodbyes to you."

Jules nodded, her lips curving into a small, understanding smile. She turned to her mother as her mom's eyes brimmed with tears. "Mon, my dear, travel safe. May God be with you," Jules' mother said, her voice trembling. Overwhelmed, she pulled Jules into a tight embrace.

"Enough hugs already!" Jules' father teased, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You spent the entire night hugging her."

Jules' mom shot him a teary glance. "We've never been apart till now," she said, her voice cracking. "I feel like a piece of my heart is moving away."

She pulled Jules in for another hug, much to her husband's amusement. "There you go again," he chuckled, shaking his head.

Jules smiled through the bittersweet moment. "Thank you all so much," she said, her voice steady despite the swirl of emotions within her. "For loving me, for taking care of me all this time, and for dropping me at the airport."

Tee, trying to lighten the mood, quipped, "Mon, I'll be sad after you're gone." But the playful edge in her voice softened as she gave Jules a warm hug.

Jim, never one to miss a moment for humor, added, "Mon, if you want to return my kindness, you'll buy me something fancy from there!"

Jules laughed and nodded, grateful for the levity. "Good luck, Mon," Tee said, her tone sincere. "Let's keep in touch in the group chat."

"Absolutely," Jules replied, her smile lingering as they all gathered for a final group picture.

As Jules stepped away from her family, she turned to take one last, long look at the place where she had grown up. She waved at her parents and their loyal dog, Shiro, as they stood by the doorway. Her father placed a comforting hand on her mother's shoulder. "She's going to call us soon, okay? She'll arrive safely," he assured her gently.

Jules smiled at them through the car window, her heart both heavy and full. As the car began to move, her phone buzzed. It was a message: Sorry, Mon, for not being there to send you off. Happy journey. Love from Ava, Ryan, and Sophie.

Her lips trembled as she read the words, and she quickly typed a heartfelt reply. Moments later, her fingers hovered over her photo gallery. She hesitated, then opened an album filled with pictures of her and Sir Sky. Her chest tightened as memories flooded her mind, and tears silently rolled down her cheeks. With a deep breath, she deleted the photos, clutching her heart as if it might break.

The car moved forward, but her thoughts lingered in the past and the people who had shaped her life. As Jules wiped her tears, she whispered a quiet promise to herself: to cherish these memories while forging ahead with strength.