EmPATHETICally Blind (A skinny love story)

Chapter 33: Never seeing him again

     Emilee's POV:

I decided it. We were leaving. We decided to leave when the school announced that we would have a week off, when the boiler exploded one night. It wasn't pretty. But, it was the right moment to leave. We were going to spend the weekend at my uncle's place though, before we started moving furniture and stuff. Since he lived a few towns over actually, we said goodbye to the Taylor's a little early. We all went out to eat, and then the parents had a gallant fight of who would pay the bill. It was an awkward hour sitting across from Matt. 

        We now sat in the parking lot on the curb, just us two. Our families were sitting in the cars, waiting for us. They were expecting us to say tearful goodbyes, confessing our love, but really, we just sat there. I didn't know what to say.

He was my first friend here in this new town. He reached out of the bag he had with him, and produced two cans of coke. I laughed.

        "Warm I hope?"

        "Been sitting in my room and bag all day. It's definitely warm."

        "Only way to drink it." I said.

We sat and drank coke in silence. I didn't know how drunk he was when I told him to make the decision, but if he could remember my whole story while he was drunk, he was sure to remember a simple conversation. 

        "Say something." I say, finally unable to bear the silence. He sighed, then looked at me with such pain on his face.

        "I have a gift for you." He says. Then he starts to sing.

        "Say something I'm giving up on you...." He sings the worst choice of song.

Tears fill my eyes as I realize he's trying to communicate to me through the lyrics. He's giving up on me, we'd have so many fights. We weren't right for each other. Anywhere I would've followed him. But he wasn't giving up on me really, just telling me that he was okay to let me go. "You're the one that I love, and I'm saying goodbye.". He's telling me that it's okay to go. 

I listen, feeling welled up with emotion. Couples stopped to listen, but moved on.

        I take off his sunglasses and kiss him on the side of his head, then hug him from the side. He hugs back.

This is what I'm meant to do, I need to go back home. I'm not cutting anymore. I had friends back at home, where I belonged. A California girl just didn't belong in Iowa.

Saying something would've actually just ruined the whole moment, so I didn't. 

        We walked to where our cars parked, and I stared at him fully one last time, knowing it would be a long time before I saw him again.

Marcie wasn't with us, she was still in college, and was deciding to stay and live with her boyfriend here in Iowa while me and my family moved back to Iowa.

 They gave me sympathetic looks as I climbed into the car.

        "Are you sure you really want to do this honey?" Mom asked.

        "I just miss home." I say. They nod and turn back around as the car pulls out of the parking lot.

Goodbye Matt.