How Rare and Beautiful // Rilaya

For You to Say it All Again

{RILEY POV}

We spent a total of two days in England, doing as much site seeing as we could. On the third day we sailed across the English channel and from the coast we took a train through several European countries. We stopped that night in a small French town. The beauty of the French country side took my breath away. 

Like the few days before I found myself wishing Maya was there watching the sun rise over the golden fields with me. I took a few pictures on my phone and sent them to my friend. She didn't look at them. 

It was still late back home. She was probably asleep. 

I wanted desperately to call her and share this moment with her. But I didn't. When the sun was high up in the morning the sky I stood up from the place I had sat to watch the sun rise and walked back to the cabin my family was staying at for the next two days before we traveled to Italy for the remainder of our trip. 

"How was it?" my mom asked as I opened the door. 

"Good." I sighed. Of course it was more than good, but without Maya there I could not feel its magnificence. 

"Why the long face?" She asked from the stove where she was cooking a full traditional French breakfast. 

"No reason." I lied sitting down at the table and resting my chin on my hands. 

"Mmhm." My mother said not believing me. 

After a moment of silence and thinking I confessed. "I miss Maya."

"Aww sweetie, I know you do." 

"I wish she could be here." 

"As do I, but I've enjoyed spending this trip with your father and Auggie and you." My mother smiled before turning off the stove and calling the boys to breakfast. She set the pans and platters of eggs and meats on the wooden table and set the table with forks knives plates and cups of orange juice. 

The boys trudged into the dining room still in their pajamas. They both yawned and stretched and took their sleepy places at the breakfast table. They had stayed up really late last night watching the stars. Auggie had lived in New York and other big cities for most of his life and had never really seen the stars in all their wonder. I remembered them from when I went to Texas to watch Lucas ride a bull. I'd never seen anything so beautiful! 

My young brother was awestruck by them. He couldn't believe how many stars there were. He kept asking dad why France stole all the stars. We all laughed at his childish question. But he had a point. It did feel like all the beautiful things had been stolen. France had stolen the stars and Maya had stolen my heart. Of course there were stars everywhere and my heart was always with me, but you couldn't see the stars in New York and I couldn't feel my heart away from Maya. 

As I picked at my French breakfast I thought of her. I check my phone before we left to spend the day in Paris. She still hadn't seen the pictures I'd sent. My heart sunk. I missed her so much. 

As we stood waiting for the bus to take us into the city I sent Maya a message to let her know I was thinking about her. 

ImASuperKlutz: I love you Maya. I miss you! Call me when you can. :'(