Annalise Starke had known her mother was going to die eventually; she just hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
At fifteen she had moved with her mother back to her home country of Australia with half a heart (metaphorically, of course) and her mo...
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Though my eyes had long glossed over, I was listening intently to what Zara was saying. She was just as on edge as I was. "Are you sure you want to do this, Annalise?" Her voice came out a whisper, "You know," she cleared her throat, "you're always welcome at my house."
I looked away from the window, the world flying by, my eyes connecting with my mother's closest friends. "I know Zara," I sent her a reassuring smile. "but I have to do this."
I had been staying with Zara and Charlotte for the last two months, and I'd hardly left their guest room except to either eat, shower, or attend school on occasion. I was more grateful to them than I could express, but I had long overstayed my welcome.
She grasped my hand, squeezing lightly. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. It means a lot just knowing that you both are here." Right now Zara and Charlotte are the closest things I have to family, and as much as I didn't want to lose that... I valued my mother's dying wish even more.
She gave me a sad, teary smile. "I know kiddo, I'm sorry about this. She didn't deserve this, you didn't deserve this... they don't deserve this."
I knew who she was talking about.
Neither my father nor my brother knew of her passing. I hadn't even spoken with my dad in months. After I moved, the calls got fewer and far between until we only spoke on holidays. I think he was incredibly hurt by my leaving, but when I made that split-second decision, I couldn't think about anyone but myself and my feelings.
I stayed in touch with Brecken for the most part—it was hard to talk often with the fourteen hour time difference, but we managed.
The car halted at a stop in front of the airport. Zara put it in park and peered over at me as I started to unbuckle, "You have nothing to be sorry for, Zara. Thank you, for everything." She gave my hand one last squeeze before I started to gather my things.
I stepped out of the car and closed the door, not a second passed before Zara rolled down the passenger seat window. "Annalise... Call me as soon as you get there, I don't give a single care about the time difference. If I don't answer, leave a message, okay?"
I could already feel my eyes tearing up, I hadn't expected this to be easy, but I also hadn't expected it to be this hard. Nodding, I clutched the bag I'd brought tightly between my fingers. "Of course, and I'll reach out every day, promise."
She looked as if she was going to demand I get back inside the car so that we could go home. Instead, she simply bit her lip in a hesitant way. "Alright," she finally said, "and please, be careful, Annalise."
"I will," I promised. "Can you make sure to tell Char I said bye, and that I love her?" After seeing Zara's nod I turned and started to walk. I didn't look back, I couldn't look back, for if I did I feared I might not go through with it.
