tape → narry au

60 → gorgonise

Gorgonise:
to have a paralysing or mesmerising effect on someone.

The day was here. I was finally leaving Tape. Finally leaving all of these experiences behind, buried within each destination I've ever encountered here.

I wasn't excited to see my mum, but once a Tape helper informed me that my mother was waiting for me by the registry cabin, a small smile dusted my face as I grasped all of my belongings. Even the ones that I borrowed from Niall.

He still never left my mind-- three weeks. It was unbelievable that I lasted three weeks since his permanent absence.

I was appalled but proud of myself-- I had every right to be.

Before meeting with my mum, I made sure to find Bean and Ed before my departure. Automatically locating the ginger and platinum blond.

Bean must've sensed my facial features because she ran to meet me in an embrace. Hands wrapping around my back as mine went to her shoulders.

She pulls back first to stare at me sadly. "You're leaving," she muses slowly.

I nod singly. "Yeah I am," I murmur.

"I'm going to miss you Rapunzel," Ed states, hugging me sideways before lightly pulling at my hair. "These long, beautiful brunet locks."

I breathe out a small laugh. "Creep," I murmur, Ed laughing just as quietly.

The three of us meet for a simultaneous embrace, saying our goodbyes in the process before exchanging numbers just in case they'd have their freedom from this place too.

And the I was off, but not to my mum just yet.

-

I sigh. The second time I was coming here since the rue incident; our bolder.

I sit there to myself, imagining Niall beside me as I observe the water before me thoroughly.

I pat the empty space next to me in imagination that it was Niall's thigh before mumbling, "I'll never let them take the light behind my eyes."

The rustling from various trees sound again but I wasn't intimidated.

"I'll always love you, Niall, if you can hear me. And I'll never forget you."

-

"What took you so long?" was the first thing my mother says to me once I finally spot her from afar.

I shrug, "Saying goodbyes to friends I've met here."

She nods before walking closer to me then pulling me into her arms swiftly as I allow her to hug me without returning the gesture.

She cards her fingers through my hair and I instantly think of Niall. Detaching myself from my mothers body before I was able to suffocate inwardly.

"Your hair is almost longer than mine," she notes jokingly. I smile a small smile to seem amiable and polite.

My mother grips my hand as we walk away from Tape and towards her vehicle. I turn around to take in the last surroundings of the place I lived in for four months temporarily. 

Everything that's happened within those four months:

I fell in love here.

Lost my virginity here.

Met friends here.

Encountered obnoxious people here.

Developed here.