Keep It Brief

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow (500 Words)

Dedicated to Alicia_Myst, because something she said put this wacky idea in my head ;-D  Thank you, my dear! 

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"Hey, what're you doing?" she asked, walking into the room, mouth falling open at the scene before her.

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

"It looks like you're packing." Hands on her hips, she observed as the laptop and the tablet were carefully tucked into a suitcase. "What're you doing with the electronics? You need those." She thoughtfully paused, pressing a palm to her chest. "We need those!" She gasped when two cluttered notebooks joined the electronics.

I sighed. "It's time," I responded, immediately wishing that I hadn't sounded so grave, as it would only prove to further agitate her.

Unsurprisingly, twin eyebrows lifted. "It's time? It's time for what?"

Ducking my head, I zipped my suitcase. Eyes remaining on the piece of luggage, I answered, "For me to go."

"You're leaving me?" The crack in her voice added a crack to my heart. "You're leaving us?"

Finally, I met those eyes, filled with such anguish and befuddlement. "It's time for us to part. To go our separate ways. Don't you think?"

"You wanna know what I think?" A fire flickered behind those gorgeous eyes and I barely smothered a proud smile. She had come such a long way in these last few months. "I think this is bull--"

"Watch your mouth!"

"This is PG-13. I'll speak how I damn well please! You... you... we just got together!" She began to pace. "You put us through hell, all of those obstacles in the way, and now we're finally together and what do you do? You just pack up and leave! What gives?"

"You're ready," I said in a confident tone.

"Ready?"

"Yes. To be on your own. You two don't need me any longer." Walking up to her, I took her hand in mine, squeezing. "I have complete faith in you. If I didn't, I'd keep writing, but that isn't necessary. We're done. Like Boyz II Men sang, this is the end of the road. It's time for you and your love to create your own song, start a brand new chapter."

She eagerly nodded. "I agree. You start a new chapter for us."

"No. You two need to start your own chapter now. It's up to you who you interact with, what you do, what you say, where you go... Don't you understand? Babe, you have your freedom! That's a good thing."

"I'm terrified," she whispered, nervously nibbling her bottom lip. "We just officially became an us... what if it gets screwed up without you grasping the reins?"

"That's life." I shrugged. "Things happen, but you two are strong and in love... I created you that way. Whatever life throws you, you'll work it out. You don't need me." Pulling the phone from my back pocket, I logged onto Wattpad, soon adding a tiny green checkmark next to her story title. Afterward, we briefly embraced.

"Where will you go?"

Softly sighing, I gazed through a nearby window. "Wherever my Muse takes me, babe. Wherever my Muse takes me."