Never Alone

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"You're an idiot," Noah stated with an exasperated sigh, leaning over from his position in the back seat of the car to give his younger brother a hit over the head. "I mean, seriously, what kind of idiot doesn't return a girl's calls for months, specifically tells her to stay away from him and then magically shows up at the airport to see her off as she pretty much travels off to the other side of the world?"

Elliot rolled his eyes so far into the back of his head that he was honestly surprised they returned to see the light of day again. Noah had been relentlessly complaining for the entire car journey, questioning and criticizing his younger brother's sanity and demanding that they immediately turn around and go back to bed. It had been at that suggestion that Jacob had blatantly pointed out that Noah had never actually been invited to participate on this road trip. 

It had been at five o' clock in the morning that Elliot had had a desperate change of heart. He hadn't been able to sleep all night, knowing that Isabella's flight was the next day. It had truly been killing him to ignore all of her calls and messages but it was simply what had to be done. He knew for a fact that if he so much as engaged in conversation with her, he would be begging her to stay. But that didn't stop him from checking the messages she sent him. Like the exact date and time of her flight. 8 AM. Today.

Needless to say, his brothers were quite shocked to hear him screaming, "someone drive me to the airport," at five in the morning. This had resulted in three brothers, all in their pyjamas, being ushered out of the house by their mother for being too loud and speeding towards Heathrow Airport. Jacob driving. Elliot silently praying that she hadn't gone through security yet. And Noah, apparently very much needed for 'moral support'.

Now at the drop-off point directly in front of the entrance to the airport, Elliot threw open the passenger door, too much in a hurry to say anything but not missing Noah's shouted claims of, "have a wonderful time on your honeymoon, son!" 

He couldn't exactly explain the desire to see her one last time. To say goodbye. It would most likely do his heart more harm than good. But he couldn't end things on such a sour note. He refused to. It physically hurt him to just let her leave, especially after all they had been through together. He needed to say goodbye. He needed some confirmation that she had actually existed, that she hadn't just been some figure of his imagination woven up to help him get over himself. Some kind of messed up guardian angel that would shortly descend back up into the sky. Away from him. It was ridiculous, really, but he...he just needed to see her one last time. To crush her in a hug so that he could remember what she felt like in his arms. 

He pushed his legs to run harder at the thought.

Isabella had already said goodbye to her aunt at the flat, preferring to endure the taxi ride to the airport alone rather than to have something to hang on to. Leaving had been one of the hardest decisions she had ever had to make. There were so many things she was going to miss. The people. And the idea of a new beginning terrified her. A life with her mother in it without the presence of her father was going to be a hard one to decipher. And then there was the prospect of her future, which she now had at least some idea what to do with. Would her campaign be strong enough? Could she really change people's minds on this? Because it wasn't just the violent weapons she was fighting against now, it was the mental health, especially in young people, that forged innocent people onto a darker path.

Despite Elliot blatantly ignoring her, she had continued to call and message him. Including him in the details of her flight. Perhaps in the faint hope that he would at least come back to say goodbye. His words had struck home so much that it had taken her a few days to truly understand them. And the meaning behind them. So much that it caused her as much pain as it did happiness. He had been pushing her away from him in the hopes of her being happier. And, the longer she had to think about it. She appreciated the gesture. Because she probably would never have had the courage to leave without his encouragement, even if it hadn't exactly been done in the most delicate manner. And she needed to leave, really, despite all that was tying her down. Because the ropes holding her back were fraying. Leaving the threads of untied loose ends caught in her throat for her to choke on.

But, as much as she was grateful, she wished that they could have left on a happier note. Or at least a heartfelt goodbye similar to the one she had previously held with her aunt. Closure. She had already been feeling the effects of Elliot's absence. The way he made her smile. The laughter they shared. The way he always made her heart beat a little faster when he was around. Out of nervousness and pure apprehension. The way they so effortlessly seemed to understand each other. And the look on his face when she noticed him staring at her. 

She had reached the front of the queue, placing her case on the conveyer belt, handing her passport and boarding pass to the lady at the desk as she attempted to ignore the growing knot in her stomach. It was tight. Almost suffocating. Out of nervousness or fear, she didn't really know. Maybe an unfurling mess of disappointment that probably shouldn't have been there in the first place. What had she been expecting? Some dramatic entrance to the airport after a drastic change of heart?

She shook her head at the thought, catching her eyes from where they had been looking around the airport. To avoid further pain. She had been unconsciously looking for him, she knew she had. But there was no point in looking for something that was never going to come. She took her passport and boarding pass back, turning to walk through security. Perhaps, if she had believed in the magic of fairytales and not judged reality so harshly, she would have taken the desperate shouts of her name to be something more than a figure of her imagination.

Elliot stopped. Back hunched and hands pressed onto his knees. Doubled over. Panting. Heaving. Out of breath. Watching with failing hope as the girl he loved just about slipped out of reach.

He was too late.