“Demi, everything is ready.” My sister’s voice fills the balcony. I put ‘the letter’ on my laps and turn to her. Madison is standing with a smile on her face but at the same time I can see tears in her eyes. God, why has everything be so hard? “Do you really have to leave?” She asks with a trembling voice.
I don’t know what to say, so I stand up and walk closer to her, then give her a tight hug. She immediately hugs me back. After a few moments of standing like this, I feel my t-shirt getting wet. Oh, I am making my sister cry. That moment I can’t control myself anymore, and my own tears begin to roll my cheeks. Maybe I don’t need to leave…
No. I have to.
“Hey, don’t cry.” I pull away and quickly wipe my tears away. Then I put my hands on her cheeks, making her look at me. Using my thumbs, I wipe the tears away from her beautiful pink cheeks. “After all, you will be able to call me, plus you know how I like it there. Helping people I feel better. And I promise to get back to visit my inimitable sister.”
She smiles, “I’ll miss you.” Suddenly her smile disappears.
“I’ll miss you too.” I smile to her and grab her hand. “Come on, Wilmer’s lawyer will kill us, if we are late.” I try to joke but it’s not funny. I have never thought that my family liked Wilmer that much, but now, when everything between me and him is really over, they act different. All my family members seem upset that we won’t be together. But it’s too late.
When we got to the living room, all my suitcases have been already taken to the car. Mom is sitting on the couch and although she’s acting calm, I can see tears in her eyes. She stands up and walks to me. Before I could react, she hugs me and starts crying. How I hate farewells. I hug her back and stroke her back up and down, trying to calm her down. I know it’s hard for her. It hard for me too.
“We will be late, girls.” Dad announces as he enters the half empty apartment. Mom pulls away, quickly wipes away her tears and walks out of the apartment. Madison follows her. When I’m in the apartment alone, I look around it for the last time. Wow, I have never thought I will leave this place. There are so many memories, not all of them are good, but at least they are memories about me and Wilmer, about our broken love story, which ended badly.
“Demi?” I hear dad’s voice, which makes me come back to reality. I sigh, grab my purse and walk out of the apartment. The door closes behind me, and that part of my life is over. What’s left in the apartment, stays in the past. Memories too.
The way to the lawyer’s office isn’t long but it was really uncomfortable. Neither of us said a word. I used to like silence but this silence is driving me to despair. After ten minutes I finally get out of the car and rush to the building. I don’t want to be late.
Running up the stairs to Wilmer’s lawyer’s cabinet, I try to stay calm. This, what I’m going to sign, is going to quit my and Wilmer’s life together. Well, at least he will not need to regret that we got married. Entering the lawyer’s cabinet, I sit down on the chair in front of him.
“Mrs. Valderrama” Lawyer starts with a smile but I cut him off.
“I’m Ms. Lovato.” I say and he nods.
“Mr. Valderrama has signed the papers already. As soon as you have sighed, you are officially divorced.” He says and pushes papers to me. I should probably read it but I don’t have time, so I turn the last page and sign. Then I push the papers back to the lawyer. “Okay, Ms. Lovato. Thanks.”
“Can you, please, give this to Mr. Valderrama?” I take a letter out of my purse and hand it to the lawyer. He nods and I give him a small smile. “Thank you. Goodbye.” I pick up the papers, which belongs to me, and I walk out of his office.
Getting to the airport is exactly the same as getting to the lawyer. Silence takes over my family. Madison, who is sitting next to me, doesn’t raise her eyes from the phone, dad is concentrated on the road, and mom… Mom is crying and looking out of the window. Maybe I didn’t need to say that I will not return…
“Maybe you can fly tomorrow?” Mom asks but I shake my head. She nods and hugs me tightly again. I hug her back and take deep breaths. I won’t die, so they don’t have to act like that.
“Mom, I’m flying today and don’t cry. I’ll be happy there, you know.” I kiss on top of her head and let go of her. Then I hug dad who’s trying to hide his tears. Without wanting to start crying, I pull away quickly from the dad ad hug Maddie. I pull away from her quickly as well, take my small suitcase, which I’m taking to the airplane with me, and look at my family for the last time.
“Demi, you know we will miss you, right?” Dad says and I nod.
“And you can visit us.” Mom adds.
“No, you can come and live with us.” Maddie shakes her head and starts sobbing.
“It’s my decision.” I state and close my eyes. “Guys, I love you.” And then I turn on my heel and walk to check in.
-
After taking a seat and fastening a seat belt, I pull out my phone and headphones. Although I left world of music, the music will always be the part of my life. I put my headphones and start listening to the music. ‘Give me love’ starts playing and I close my eyes… Oh no, I’m going to cry.
“Hi” Someone shakes me and I open my eyes widely. I turn to the person and see a beautiful young man sitting beside me. I immediately pull out the headphones from my ears and look at him again. “I’m Adam Johnson.”
“I am…” I start but he gives me a smile and I understand that he knows who I am. “Nice to meet you.” I stretch my hand for him and he shakes it.
“So, how I have read in the contract, we both go to the Africa for the same purpose.” He tries to start conversation. I nod and then frown.
“That means we will have to spend time together…” I say and close my eyes. “God, I thought I will be able to rest of the man…” I sigh and he laughs.
“Failed.” He says simply and grabs one of my headphones. I watch as he put it in his ear and closes his eyes. After a few moments he opens his eyes and looks at my confused face. “What? Start playing the music.” He says and I shake my head.
“No culture. I don’t know you. You can’t listen music with me.” I cross my hands over my chest and try to act hurt.
“We will spend a lot of time in Africa together, so you better get used to me.” He says and takes my phone from my hands. He presses ‘play’ button on the screen and hands the phone to me. Then he rests his head on my shoulder and closes his eyes.
I put the headphone in my ear and close my eyes. Looks, like I’m going to have a great time in Africa.
