Life's Long Journey

Chapter 7

As we walked to the car, Zack held me close. When we dropped into the car, Zack turned and looked at me.

  "May. I would prepare yourself." He reached out and grabbed my hand. I nodded then turned to look at the road. We drove to my house in silence. When we arrived, my mom came out. She didn't look happy but she didn't look sad either. Zack got out with me staying a few inches behind me. I hugged my mom and she led us both inside. She motioned us to go to the living room. We all stayed quiet. I could feel the tension in the room when my dad walked out and sat on the couch next to my mom. Zack sat next to me holding my hand.

  "Maya. We need to tell you something important." My dad started. I nodded still silent waiting for what would come.

  "Now, before that, just remember we did this for the best." My mom added before letting my dad continue.

  "Maya, your mother and I are getting divorced." I felt Zack's grip tighten as he slung his arm around me. My eyes began to sting and my face got hot. I got up from the couch and ran to my room.

  "May! Maya! Come back!!" I heard Zack call as he ran after me. I ran and flopped on my bed. Zack came in to comfort me. He sat on the edge of my bed and ran his hand up and down my back. I sat up next to him and laid my head on his shoulder. I was crying and he just let me cry on his shirt. He had his arm around me and I could feel his chin on the top of my head as I cried.

  "Zack."

  "Yes?" I looked up at him.

  "Don't leave. Okay?" I said laying my head back down. He rubbed my back.

  "I'm not going anywhere. Don't worry." He sounded so calm and collected.  When I finally stopped crying, we called my parents in. They walked in with a sad look on their face as they came up to me. My dad sat next to me and my mom stood in front of me.

  "What's going to happen?" I finally asked tears filling my eyes again.

  "Well... you'll be going with mom to Germany, and I'll sta-" I cut my dad off.

  "GERMANY?!?! I can't go to Germany! My whole life is in Seattle!" I yelled. Zack was stroking my arm. When I yelled, he put his other arm around me to calm me down. It didn't work. "There is NO way on this earth you will be flying me to GERMANY of all places!!"

My mom got a sad look. She stared me in the eyes.

  "Maya, I know it's a lot, but it's what needs to be done. I got a good paying job there and the company agreed to pay for a house for one full year." She looked me dead in the eyes as I thought this over. Leaving my friends, best friend, and boyfriend for an new school, no friends, and no father. I didn't think so.

  "Nope. Not happening." I stated. Zack pulled me closer.

  "May. It's happening. Trust me, I'm not happy either, but it must happen." Zack said looking down at me. I looked up at his calm face and hugged him.

  "What if we can't do it? What if long distance gets the best of us?" I said. His eyes began to fill with tears.

  "Then, we'll know it wasn't meant to be." He said resting his head on top of mine. I looked my parents in the eyes. They gave me the desperate look.

  "We leave in two weeks." My mom said getting up and leaving. My dad gave me a little kiss before leaving. Zack and I sat there in silence until his mom called asking him where he was.

  "May... I have to go. I'll see you at school tomorrow." He kissed me then left. I got up to get ready for my job. I put on my apron then headed out the door.

  After work, I was covered in coffee. I went to my room and sat on my bed. I'd been wanting to call Carlie, so I picked up my phone to call her.

  "Hello?" She answered.

  "Hey." My eyes began to fill with tears. She could obviously tell.

  "May, I'm on my way." She said with a worried tone. I've never called her crying, so this was new for the both of us. I stayed there waiting for her. When she arrived I got up and ran to the door.

  "May!!" She said wrapping her arms around me the second she saw me.

  "Carlie!" I said sinking into her crying. She held me close.

  "Let's go get you calmed down a then tell me what happened." She said leading me to my room. I nodded and went along. I sat on my bed with her and cried. When I had gathered my feelings I explained everything.

  "No!!! You can't go!!!" She said about to cry. I had already started again.

  "Yea!! In TWO weeks!!!" I said sobbing. She looked at me and began crying. We cried until my mom walked in. She went to my bed and wrapped us both in a hug. Although I was mad at her, she made me feel safe.

  "Carlie, please forgive me. I can't do anything now. It's set in stone." My mom explained. Carlie nodded pushing herself away from me and to her feet.

  "I should get going. I need to tell my mom," she said turning  to leave.

  "Wait! Your mom already knows. I called everyone's parents this morning. That's how Zack already knew." She turned to me. Carlie nodded and walked out the door. My mom took my hand and looked me straight in the eyes.

  "It's going to be okay." She said calmly before getting up to leave. I laid down in my bed and fell asleep immediately.