Three Years

four

She hated it. The second she sat down, she wanted to jump out of the damn aeroplane and drive back home to Sierra, yet here she was anyway. Stuck on a twelve hour flight to Los Angeles for her best friend's wedding; a wedding where she was more than likely going to run into her ex, the father of her daughter.

Fun.

Kirstin had to constantly remind herself that she was doing this for Kevin, the guy who was always there for her, because unfortunately, she couldn't just jump on a plane and fly to Los Angeles. She had to inform the online school she would be off for some time and then she had to find someone to take care of Sierra, which was the most difficult part of all.

It was difficult to say goodbye to her baby, even if she was only going to be gone for ten days. She had never been separated from Sierra since her birth. Well, school didn't count. That was a few hours. 

"Mummy, why are you leaving me?" Sierra asked, her eyes glistening. Kirstin bent down to her level and stroked her hair.

"Mummy is going to visit uncle Kevin, I won't be gone very long," Kirstin replied with a sad smile, her own eyes threatening to spill tears. Sierra was slightly reassured by this, but was still very sad to see her mother go. 

"Promise you won't leave forever like Daddy did?" 

Kirstin could feel her heart being torn apart with those eight simple words. She felt heartbroken at first, but then her body filled with rage. Avi had done this, he had scarred the poor girl for life.

No, you did this. You kept your daughter away from him all these years. It's your fault, don't put the blame on Avi because it's easier.

With her thoughts eating away at her and her baby girl standing in front of her for the last time in a few days, Kirstin couldn't help the tears that ran down her cheeks.

"I promise, sweetie."

***

Finally after a torturous twelve hours, Kirstin was let off the plane and immediately made her way to the area where Kevin was supposed to pick her up. She searched over the crowds of people in the airport and stopped when she saw a guy holding up a sign saying 'Maldonado'. Her heart leapt at the sight of her best friend who she hadn't seen in years and she sprinted towards him, almost rugby tackling him to the ground in the process.

"Kevin!" She cried out, flinging her arms around him. She buried her head into his soft, fleecy jacket and tried not to allow the tears to leave her eyes; she didn't realise until this very moment how much she had missed him. 

He hugged her back just as tightly and exclaimed, "Kirstie! I almost didn't recognise you, you changed your hair again." 

It was true, she had ditched the long, black locks that she once had. Once she arrived in London, she decided to go for a totally different look. She had told everyone that she just wanted a change in style but honestly, it was because Avi loved her hair. 

"Don't ever change your hair, I'm absolutely obsessed with it," he had once said during a rehearsal, always twisting her curls around his fingers. She felt that if she cut her hair it would be like cutting Avi off, so that's exactly what she did. Her long, black hair was now switched for platinum blonde that ended at her shoulders. 

"Yeah, just felt like doing something different," she replied sheepishly. "But anyway, we have a lot to catch up on," she said, quickly changing the subject. He smiled knowingly and like a true gentleman, took the trolley filled with Kirstie's luggage for and pushed it for her.

"Yeah, I think we do."