Say Goodbye (a Selection story)

Chapter Three

      The second I see May's red hair, I break from Aspen and run to her and give her a hug.
    "Oh, America, it's been too long!" she exclaims.
    "I know I've missed you all incredibly," I say. I stand up to give my mother a hug.
     "I wish we could be here for a better reason," mom says with tears in her eyes.
     "Don't cry about it mom. I'm okay, really," I say even though I'm not okay.
      Mom wipes her tears and walks over to Aspen and wraps him in a hug.
      "It's good to see you, Aspen," mom says. 
      "It's good to see you too, Mrs. Singer," he replies.
      "And how is the palace life treating you?" Mom asks.
       "Couldn't ask for better. I do miss my family though," he says.
       I couldn't help but notice that he didn't mention that he was being sent to New Asia. I don't blame him though. Knowing my mother, she would tell Mrs. Leger before Aspen gets the chance to tell his family.
        Tears threaten to fall again as I think about Aspen being deployed. I quickly look away from him and my eyes accidentally find someone else: Maxon. He's standing on the steps looking at me. Many emotions cover his face. Anger, confusion, regret, jealousy, uncertainty. His eyes scanned my dress up and down many times. The second he sees me looking at him; however, his stony expression from before returns.
       Kriss walks down the steps a few moments later and links her arm into his. A smile breaks Maxon's stone face and he leads Kriss down the steps to meet us.
       "Thank you so much for traveling all this way. I do wish your short visit could be under better circumstances," Maxon says, "I can honestly say that America is a unique woman and I have very much enjoyed getting to know her." That's a lie. "I would also like to offer my condolences on the death of Mr. Singer."
      Another wave of threatening tears come. My father had just died of a heart condition a few weeks ago. Going home and not seeing him there will be difficult to do.
      "Thank you very much, Your Majesty," my mother says. You can see some sadness appear on her face, May's as well.
      "A group of guards will be escorting you all from the airport in Carolina to your household for protection," Maxon walks over to me, "Thank you for taking part in my Selection. I hope life treats you well on from now on." He takes my hand and kisses it.
        A slight chill runs through my body. His lips on my hand and the iciness in those words made my skin crawl.
       "The pleasure was all mine," I say with a smile but iciness in my voice. Two can play this game Maxon Schreave.
          Kriss walks over to me and wraps me in a hug. "Oh, I'm going to miss. You'll have to come and visit sometime," she says with a huge smile on her face. She was probably the only one whose smile was actually genuine.
        I just nod my head. I'm not planning on coming back here ever again.
        "Mrs. Singer, Miss Singer, Lady America, your car is waiting outside for you. All of your things have already been loaded in, Lady America," Aspen says.
        "Very well, I guess this is goodbye then. Congratulations to you both. I hope your marriage is blessed and filled with joy and good memories," I say. I practically throw up in my mouth saying those words but I had to show Maxon I'm not affected by this. I had to show him I'm stronger than he thinks I am.
         May grabs my hand as we walk away. I hold onto it tightly. I need something to hold onto for strength, to keep me together. She gives me a worried look but I just smile back to say don't worry about me, but I know she can tell I'm not okay.
        The Angeles air is cool and comfortable outside. I soak in the sunshine and the warmer weather because I know I'll be coming home to Carolina's harsh winter. I look around the front palace grounds and soak in everything I can. This is the last time I'll ever see this place, and as much as I want to forget the time I spent here, I could deny its beauty and how much I wanted to remember that.
        The black limo is waiting for us with its door open. Mom and May climb in first. I pause before I get in to take one last look at the palace. I spot Aspen standing by the palace doors with tears in his eyes. I give him a weak smile and mouth it's okay. He nods. I know, he mouths back. I get into the limo as some tears start to fall. I get one last glimpse at the palace as we drive away.
         Now the hard part begins: forgetting. Trying to forget everything that's happened here. All the memories, all the new things I saw and learned. But the thing is, I don't know if I ever will be able to forget; because no matter how much I now hate this place, it changed my life...for better and for worse.