Crazy Girl

9. Youngsville

"Are you ready to go?"

"Just one second Ms. Marino."

Marley saw Jacob's car pull up and she walked towards it.

"Marley.."

"Jacob..You came!"

"I just wanted to see you off." Jacob said hugging Marley.

"I'll miss you most of all Jacob."

"I'll miss you so much more!"

"Well, this is it Jacob."

Marley started to cry.

"I'll come see you every weekend! Just like I promised. Me and the boys!"

"You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you Jacob!"

"Baby why you wanna cry? You really ought to know that you just have to walk away sometimes.."

"Marley! Come on, we have to go now." Ms. Marino yelled from the car.

Marley sighed.

"I'll see you soon Jacob."

Jacob kissed Marley again.

"I love you."

"I love you too Jake."

Marley walked away crying as Jacob got in his car and drove away.

••••••

"I know how much he likes you and I know it hurts him to see you go."

"Oh yeah? How do you know?"

"I can tell by the way he looks at you. His whole face lights up when you smile!"

Marley laughed some.

"You really think so Ms. Marino?"

"Oh yes! I see the look you get on your face when someone says his name. I see how you look at him. Baby girl that's love.."

"I guess so Ms. Marino..."

Marley looked out the window and smiled.

•••••

It was a 10 hour drive from Charleston to Pennsylvania. Marley slept for about 8 hours before she'd slept all she could have. She then woke up and talked to Ms. Marino some.

"Seeing as it's a 10 hour drive from my home to you, I probably will not visit you often. Every other week will have to do Marley."

"That's fine. I'm just worried about Jacob. That's a long drive and I know it would drive him crazy to have to do it every weekend."

"If he loves you like he says he does, he'll do anything for you."

They were 2 hours out from Pennsylvania.

"What's the place called Ms. Marino?"

"Youngsville Psychiatric Hospital."

"I have to spend a year there? That sounds like hell.."

"You'll be 18 in a few months and then you're on your own from there. You can go back to Charleston and live life how you choose."

"I know you're trying to help me by doing this. It means a lot to know that you care. My grandmother would be very happy to know how much you are helping!"

"If your grandmother was here, we wouldn't be in this situation Marley."

Ms. Marino and Marley laughed because they knew what she was saying was true.