Keeping Up With Me

The Lies

It is strangely windy today, but I go to the park every day after school, so some wind won't stop me. The park is on a middle island with four roads surrounding it. It was very New York-y. Only parts I've seen in movies, never actually been to New York. In fact, this was the first time I am leaving my home state. Crazy. I parked the car, walked over to the bench I always sit at and read my book, Pride and Prejudice, my favourite. I looked up and saw a little girl playing on the swing set alone, looking sad and lonely. She looked over at her older sister, sitting on a park bench. The sister had a cast on her leg and crutches leaning against the bench. I got all choked up looking at them, reminding me of Abby and I. As I was looking at them a young man approached me and threw a brown bag at my book.

'Hey, dork.'

Don't worry it's just my best friend, Teddy. Well, Ted, but I call him Teddy to annoy him. Teddy and I have been friends since before time could tell. I shook off what I was just so sad about and focused on him.

'Hello, Teddy.'

'I thought we made a deal, that you wouldn't call me that anymore.' He scrunched up his face and folded his arms like a little kid that was mad.

'Yes, we did, but it is just so fun to see you get so mad about it.'

'I got you a muffin.'

'Oh, yes, the one you threw at me.'

'That's the one,' there was a long, piercing silence. 'You're really leaving'

Teddy didn't have any friends either, so he didn't want me to leave. I guess we both had friends, which was each other but that's it.

'Teddy, please don't. You know this is my dream. I'm doing this for me, I need to get out of here.'

'I know but, I'm going to miss you.' He said with a childish voice. Teddy usually mimicked children's behaviours.

'I know you will, but I already planned a trip to see you at Easter, so it's not that far away.'

He sadly smiles, wishes me the best and walks home. He needed to go home. Teddy and I usually hang out for a while at the park, but I know this was hurting him. He just needed to rip of the band aid, and that's what he did.

I took the long way home, past the harbour and through the city, to take it all in one last time. I wanted to get all nostalgic, but I wanted to go home more. I pulled up on the driveway and Abby was there waiting for me to get home. She was the one who didn't want me to go the most, we were all each other had. I kneeled down to her and gave her an envelope.

'What's this?'

'Open it.'

She slowly opened it, very skeptical about it.

It read:

Dear Samuels Girls,

We are writing to inform you that, now Arbor is 18, you are more than welcome to take full custody of Abby. To do this you must go to court so that a judge can see you fit to take full custody of Abby and your adoptive parents, must also approve of this. We understand that you are moving to London, and would like to take Abby with you, so we see it possible through this, although it may take a few months. We wish you all the best with your lives.

From Marty's Home For Girls.

'I can come live with you?'

'After we get the all clear from the court.'

Abby was over filled with joy she almost knocked me over when she hugged me. We loved our adoptive parents, but they always knew I was going to take custody of Abby when I turned 18, but I still felt bad, they couldn't have their own children, but adopting us didn't really replace that as I'm taking Abby away. They say they are fine with it, so so are we, I finally get to show Abby the world, she deserves that. We went inside and had ice cream for dinner and a movie before heading off to bed. Although Abby is 12 and I'm 18, we slept together in my room. She'd been sleeping with me all week, and every night telling me not to go. I stayed up most of the night talking to Abby, about everything. About high school that she was starting in 2 months. About being a 'big girl' now. About if she ever needed me, I would take the time to call her. The court clearance could take months so I didn't know when I would see her again, so I watched her sleep, taking in my last Abby moments.