' You're moving away
And I want you to stay.
We're drifting apart
With the distance
Between us,and I wish
I could change it , but
I can't and it breaks my
Heart just a little bit
More every day.
Come back.
Stay.
Don't go.
Please. '
Epilogue
As I'm sitting in the car , waiting to reach my destination , I think back to the day when everthing started.
It was a stupid fight I picked with a girl who I knew would never back away because she was afraid of fighting with a guy . It was then I realised that whatever I felt for her was nothing but love .
I never thought I could love anyone as much as I loved her but I was proved wrong . I learnt that love was meant to be selfless rather than selfish.
I remember how scared Calvin sounded on the phone when he called me and told me what had happened . We both waited in the hospital till she refused to meet anyone of us . I remember her telling her mother , 'Mom, I can't talk or be with them. They broke me so bad that I don't think I'll be able to piece myself back.'
A few days after the accident when I went to meet her , her mother told me that she had left and moved to Brighton, just like she was going to after the accident. I guess she was tired of fighting for them when he won't even listen to a single word she says.
I was angry at myself because I realised how much they both loved each other. How much they deserved to be with each other and have a happy ending. I told Calvin about what I had done and he was more angry at himself than me because he didn't let her explain and he let her go.
One night when we were drinking our sorrows away , he was very much drunk , he told me , ' Do you know why I am angry at myself ? Because I had told her I will fight for us. I said that she was worth the fight . And when I gave up , she fought. She fought for both of us. And I never fought hard enough! I fucking let her go!'
He was in a very bad shape for the first few months but I couldn't take it anymore. I made him realize that he had to get his shit together just for Sue. That she didn't deserve such a shitty brother. That made him snap out of his bubble . He changed. Even though he was no longer moping around I knew something was missing in him. It took a lot of courage for him to become the best Neurosurgeon in England. He even dated some girls but he is still waiting for that one special girl.
It took me a year and a half to move on from Jack and I'm glad I did because then I would never have met my love , my Kate . We've been married for four years now and have a beautiful two year old daughter , Janice. Kate has a major part in helping me get over Jack. She knows everything . And she knows about the guilt I feel . She knows that Jack still holds a special place in my heart and she accepts it. We've accepted each other with our pasts.
Calvin's heart is still owned by Jack. He tried every possible thing to reach Jack but he never got a response. Letters, messages , calls , even visits to Brighton but to no avail. He never lost hope , at least in the beginning. Be even tried to move on but he just couldn't !
A few days back when we got the letters he decided that it'll be the last time . The last time he would try to get her back.
Calvin and I , both , don't know why we were invited. Yes , invited. Jack's grandmother had written us both letters which were delivered to us when she died and she had said in the letters that she wanted us to attend her funeral.
I'm brought back to reality when the car stops. We've reached .
I'm shocked to see Jack. She looks nothing like the old Jack. She is crying on Levi's shoulder. And I don't think I've ever seen her cry.
" I can't even recognize her. She's changed." I mutter but Calvin seems to hear me and he replies ,
" She's not Jack anymore , she's Jacqueline ."
I don't understand the meaning of his words but I let it go. We sit in the last row during the entire service . I'm pretty sure Jack has not seen us and I don't think she will recognize us.
After the service Calvin wanted to meet her right away but I stopped him .
" Let me talk to her first ."
Reluctantly he agreed .
I find her sitting alone on a bench and I go sit next to her. She asks, " How did you know she died ?"
" We got a letter which she had written before she died. It was delivered to us when she died ."
" Oh ." That's all she says and I know she's thinking.
After a minute or two she asks , " You got married ?"
I look down at my ring and a smile appears on my face and I say , " Yes . Didn't you hear it on the news channel? They've got no job but to stalk famous people. " I frown at the mention of the reporters .
This makes her chuckle. " I thought they were just rumors . But it's nice that you got married. I'm happy for you ."
" Thanks , I guess." I chuckle nervously.
After a few seconds I ask her , " You do know that he's here , don't you ?"
" How can I not , " she replies , " Even if he's a few feet away from me I can feel his presence . And how could I miss those eyes . I saw them during my eulogy . Ay first I thought I was dreaming but then I saw you and I was shocked. And you wanna know the worst part ? The worst part is that even aftet eight years I'm still not over him. Pathetic , aren't I ? I guess he must have moved on but I just couldn't. I tried everything. Every fucking thing and I still haven't gotten over him." Her voice breaks towards the end and she starts crying. I pull her in for a hug and tell her what I've wanted to say,
" I don't think I can laugh at you for being stuck on a guy for eight years because my best friend is also stuck on the same girl for eight years. The only thing I don't understand is that why didn't you reply to any of Calvin's messages or letters or answer his calls ? He even visited Brighton whenever he could just in the hope of finding you. "
She looked at me with a confused expression until realization dawns upon her." We changed houses. My grandma and me . The only people who knew were my friends in Brighton. Even my mom and dad didn't know . Not that they ever bothered to ask. And I changed my number when I moved to Brighton. "
" Oh.. You know when he learnt the truth he started hating himself for not letting you explain. He hat--" I was cut by my blaring ringtone. I quickly silenced the call and turned back to Jack , " All I want to say is that I know he once told you that he would fight for you because you were worth the fight . I even know when shit went down you fought for him because even he was worth the fight. And now I think let the fight end , all you have to do is enjoy you reward - your love for each other . It's what you both need ."
I looked behind Jack to see Calvin standing by our car waiting for me to finish so that he can talk. I turn back to Jack , " Go , he is waiting for you. I think its high time you express your love for each other. "
With that I get up and place a small kiss on her forhead and turn to leave. She calls out my name and turn back and she hugs me tightly and lets go not before adding ," Thank you Ric ."
She gives me a small smile and walks towards Calvin .
Just as I'm ending the call with Kate I turn to return to our car only to find Calvin and Jack kissing. I can make out that Calvin is crying and even though I can't see Jack's face I know that she is crying too.
" Ric? Honey ? You there ?" Kate's worried voice brings me back.
" Yah , I'm listening " I reply .
" What is it , dear ?" She knows I talked to Jack and she even knows that Jack was talking to Calvin while I was on the phone. Seeing them like this makes the guilt in me slowly go away. It makes me happy. And I want to share this happiness with Kate because she's helped me a lot . So I reply ,
" Nothing, love. They just got their happy ending. "
