The Summer Camp

Good Bye. *Final Chapter*

I wake up early the next day so my dad can drive me to where they are leaving from.

"Well, you ready to say goodbye?" My dad asks, sipping on his morning coffee. I look up from putting syrup on my french toast, shocked by his question.

" I uh, I guess I am. I don't want to but they need to go back to their camp and since I'm not going....." I trail off, not wanting to go into further detail. I guess my dad gets it and shuts his newspaper and stands up.

"Finish eating then go get dressed and we can go." He tells me, rinsing out his cup. I finish my food quickly and run up the stairs.

I don't even see what I put on, I just find an appropriate looking outfit and run to the bathroom.

Turns out I grabbed a bandeau, a loose racer back, and some jean shorts. I run a brush through my hair, trying to tame it. Using a bit of spray, I get it some what decent looking, before running downstairs, putting my sneakers on as I go.

"I'm ready!" I tell me dad, slightly outta breath from the sudden fast movement.

"Haha alright, go hop in." He laughs, tossing the keys to me. With my phone in hand, I head out to the truck.

Not three minutes later, he comes walking to his door, quickly shutting it and putting it in reverse and heading down the driveway. My knee bounces with nerves as we get closer to the bus depot.

"You go ahead. Take all the time you need, I'll be here when you are done." My dad says, putting on the radio and leaning back in his chair. I nod and hop out of the now parked car.

With a brisk pace I walk to the correct loading area and spot my friends.

"Tally! Nate! Wait!" I yell as I run to catch them before they get on the bus. I see Tally turn and look as the door closes. I lock eyes with her as the bus drives off. My breath comes to me in small shallow breaths, my eyes stinging with warning that tears are going to come soon. I lean against the wall to my left and slide down, curling into a ball, and letting the tears come.

I sit there for what seems like ages before I feel a hand on my arm. I look up to see my dad, kneeling in front of me. He is wordless but opens his arms and I throw myself into his embrace.

That's how we ended up sitting on the dirty bus depot floor, my dad holding me while I cried my heart out. When I started to calm down, my dad asked what happened.

"They left dad. The left without a goodbye." I manage to croak out, my throat sore from me sobbing. My dad runs his hands own my hair, soothing me. He lifts me up, letting me curl into his arms, as he carry's me to the car.

We stop at the local diner to get food. He knows this was me and my moms special place.

"Why did you bring me here dad?" I ask, after ordering my usual food.

"When your mother was alive, she could sense when you were going to cry. I have no idea how but she would always be there right when it started and stopped it faster then anyone else. Also she would take you here when you had a bad day... Failed a test? She would bring you here and tell you that you tried your best... The boy you like doesn't like you? She would take you here and pretend to curse him. She would always bring you here and even on the worst times, make you laugh." My dad tells me. I give him a massive hug, well aware he is caught up in flash backs of his own.

I sit down in my own seat as the food arrives. I wipe my eyes and dig into my food. When we are all done, dad pays the bill and we head to the car.

When we get home we spend the day watching old family films from when mom was alive. After every one my dad would pause it and explain the story and what else happened that day.

I felt at peace knowing stuff that happened hen I was young. While my dad was getting popcorn I smelled my mom. I look to my right and see her, a single silver tear roiling down her cheek.

"Mom." I whisper. She nods and wraps her arms around me. I bury my face in her neck and hold her tight.

"Shush child. Be happy. I'm at peace, I'm not in pain. I'm happy. I will always be watching over you making sure you are happy."  She tells me, wiping a tear rolling down my face.

"Do you want butter on your-" My dad asks, walking into the room but stopping dead in his tracks when he sees my mom.

"Lori? Is, is that you?" He asks, putting the popcorn on the table and standing in front of my mom. She nods her head, more tears rolling down her pale face.

"How." He asks, taking her hands in his.

"I came to tell you to carry on with life. You need to start living again. I'm not saying to forget me, but you need to move on with your life. I will always love you and watch over you." She says as she slowly fades away.

As soon as she is gone my dad breaks down in tears. He keeps talking about how hard it was to have the love of your life ripped away from you before you could live life together. How its not fair. I just hold him and sooth him like he did to me earlier in the day.

When he is done crying he looks at me.

"You look so much like your mother. Every time I look at you, I see you looking like her more and more everyday." My dad says, taking my face in his hands.

"I love you dad." I tell him, giving him a hug.

"I Love you too sweetie. I love you too." He whispers, holding me tight.

It's over. That's it. Even as I edit it I have a rush of emotions that I got when I was writing it. I spent a lot of time and effort on this and it was worth it. I want to thank each and every single one of you who read this book.  I have the sequel up if you want to check that out, or you want this to be how it's ended. I have an epilogue as well in form of closure. There were some hard and serious chapters in this story and I want you to know I am here for anybody that needs someone to vent to, even though I'm a total stranger. 

Thank you

Jazmine Strand

Edited March 28 2016