Breaking the Chains

Chapter Twenty Nine

The second Riley's parents got to the front door, Riley was excited. She got to the door in seconds and was wrapped in tight embraces immediately. Tears fell from her face as the biggest smile curled on her lips. Her mom was clearly crying while her father took light breaths every so often. Matt, on the other hand, didn't let go of Riley no matter what she did. After what felt like hours of hugging, Riley's parents let go and she was left to having Matt hanging from her waist. She grinned at him but noticed just how grown up he had gotten. 

"I missed you," he said quietly as he hugged her tighter. Riley bit down the pain as she hugged him back.

"I missed you too," she whispered back, focusing on the older looking face he had. He had more of a jaw, a more defined nose and bigger eyes, which were the deepest shade of blue. One of his ears had two piercings, and though he wasn't very old, it suited him. "You're so grown up, Matt," she added as she kissed the top of his forehead.

The embraces and love kept getting passed around until Riley's parents looked toward Nona, who stood beside Eli with an arm wrapped around him. Riley looked at him and clenched her jaw as a frown immediately curled on her lips. She had to leave him. "Thank you so much for finding her," Riley's father said as tears formed in his eyes once more. "You have no idea what it's like to have no daughter in your arms for over four years," he added and looked toward Riley with a gentle smile. 

"This one gave me a scare too," Nona said and nudged Eli gently.

"I can only imagine," the man said with a small nod. He looked toward Riley once more before a grin spread on his lips. "I guess we have to go," he said quietly before he gently grabbed his wife's hand before walking out of the door. Matt's hand was wrapped with Riley's, and a smile was stuck on his face.

"We'll walk you out," Nona said quickly as she and Eli followed them out. Eli clenched his jaw as he heard the front door close behind him. He leaned his back gently on the wall of the building behind him as he watched Riley open one of the back doors so Matt could go sit in there. Eli knew that this was going to happen eventually, but it was almost like it was too early. He was going to miss her. Riley turned around and immediately their eyes locked. Eli could only see her eyes from the hundred feet distance between them and almost immediately, he felt as though their hearts began to beat synchronized. His breath calmed down before he took a light step toward her as she did the same to him. Nona grinned at them for a moment. Riley's parents looked curiously toward the two of them before the two teenagers stood in front of each other, meeting halfway.

"I'm going to miss you," Riley said quietly after she gulped. She didn't bring her gaze away from his eyes. Eli immediately reached for her hand and held it tenderly in his own.

"I'm still going to love you," he said quietly as he looked from her left eye to her right eye. "I'm not going to stop. And I'll visit you and I'll call you every chance I get." Riley slowly smiled as tears formed slightly in her eyes. The same was happening to Eli's eyes. "This isn't goodbye." Riley nodded very slowly as she hesitantly took a breath out. "I won't ever say goodbye," he added.

"I won't either," Riley replied after a few seconds of silence. Then, before she knew it, she pressed her lips against his as she wrapped her arms around his neck very carefully. Eli wrapped his arms around her waist before she managed to break away. "I love you," she said in a quiet whisper. "And I loved the stories you told me," she added. Riley took a short breath before she kissed him gently once more. "I have to go," she said with a frown as she backed away from him. 

"I'll be here," he said quietly as he watched Riley back away from him until she turned around and got into her car. Eli immediately bit back tears as he began to wave. Nona met his side and wrapped a gentle arm around him. Riley waved back and before Eli knew it, their vehicle was out of sight. "She's gone," he said quietly. Nona looked at him and shook her head gently.