Say Goodbye (a Selection story)

Chapter Two

      The second I close the door to my room I break down in tears. My maids rush to me and try to comfort me with words, but no words could fill the void in my heart. The tears fall like a rapid waterfall with no way to stop them.
      "Oh, America, it'll be alright. You'll get through this. Your too strong for something like this to break you," Anna tells me.
       I look up at Anne. She's right. I can't let this break me forever. It's okay to be broken now but I can't live like Maxon will be my last love. And the last thing I want Maxon to see is me walking out of here looking like a mess.
       "You're completely right, Anne," I say as I stand up, "Now I think Maxon should see what a girl he's passed up. Ladies, I want you to make me look better then I ever have before."
       Huge smiles break across all of their faces.
       "We will make you look like the queen you should be, Lady America," Lucy says, smiling ear to ear.
        I could never express how thankful I am for these three wonderful ladies. Throughout my whole journey here at the palace they have been there to support me and to make me look more beautiful than I ever thought I could be. Without them I truly don't know if I could've survived this place.
        In just under an hour, my hair and makeup is done to absolute perfection. They put slight curls in my hair so it would look more wavy than curly, and makeup was light but accented just the right parts of my face. I looked incredible.
        "All you need is your dress now," Mary says as she pulls a garment bag out of my wardrobe.
         A gasp escapes my lips as she unzips the garment bag. The dress was stunning. It had sleeves but the collar stopped just under my shoulders to expose a small amount of skin. The top was a light blue but faded as it went down the dress and sleeves so that a dark, regal blue would wrap around the bottom. Carefully designed clumps of sparkles appeared as you looked down the dress. It almost looked as if someone captured the blue sky turning into the night in a dress.
          I walked over to the dress and rubbed the bottom of a sleeve between my finger. The material was thicker for its much colder in Carolina.
         "It's beautiful," I whisper.
         "Well, we couldn't let you walk out of here in an ordinary day dress. You need to walk out of here in style," Lucy says.
          I let out a little laugh. "Maxon is going to be so jealous when he sees me in this."
         Anne, Mary, and Lucy let out small laughs too and exchange grins. I have a feeling they are going to enjoy this as much as I will.
         I slip into the dress with the help of Mary and Lucy as Anne packs the few belongings I have in a small suitcase. I was all ready to go when a knock came to my door.
         I walk over and open it expecting it to be a guard there to escort me to my family, but I wasn't expecting it to be Aspen.
        "Aspen," is all I say.
        "You look beautiful, Mer," he says with tears in his eyes.
        I quickly wrap into a hug. "Please don't cry, okay? It wasn't your fault. It's my fault that your being sent to New Asia."
        "Don't," he says pulling me away and looking into my eyes, "don't you dare blame this on you. I don't want you living the rest of your life thinking this is your fault."
"But it is! Because of me and my stupidity you're being sent to New Asia and you might come back in a body bag!!!" I fight back tears, trying not to ruin my makeup.
Aspen gently wipes away the single tear that does fall. "Don't you worry about me. I'm a survivor, I'll make it through this. I'm more worried about you."
"Just worry about staying alive please. For your family, for Lucy..." Aspen and I both look at Lucy who is watching us.
"I'm going to try, only if you promise me to not let this ruin you. I've destroyed your life twice now."
"Second time wasn't your fault, but I'll try to move on and be happy."
Aspen pulls me in for another hug. "Good," he steps back and holds out his arm. "I am instructed to take you to your family."
I smile as I link my arm in his. Hopefully Maxon will be in the lobby as well so he can see me being happy and looking this good.