3,000 Miles

Chapter 12

I woke up the next morning still in Wesley's arms, he was still asleep so I tried to get up without waking him. Despite my efforts he still shook awake.

"That was the best sleep I've gotten in a while" he yawned.

"What are we gonna do today?" he asked

"How about a lovely stroll through the park." I suggested.
He lowered his head and smirked.
"What?" I asked.
"You're such a girl"
I rolled my eyes and pulled myself off the couch.

I ran to put on some shorts and a tank top, but as I changed I peeked through my door to see Wesley pacing back in forth talking to himself. I couldn't hear what he was saying but he seemed to be saying the same thing over and over, as if he were practicing the words. Was this what he was worried about? I don't even know what this is. What could he be practicing, but before I could think he saw me looking.

"Umm are you ready to go?" he asked

"Yeah, just let me get my bag."

The ride was silent, as most had been lately, something had changed, but I wasn't sure what. we still loved the same, we just didn't talk much anymore, and that sucked.

When we got to the park Wes grabbed my hand and held it. He held it like it was still the first time, only now his head was bowed and a frown replaced where once a smile had been. We strolled along the path for a while before I finally said something.

"Wes, what were you doing in the living room, you were talking to yourself." I said gently.

"No, I...I can't do this now, please."

"Wesley." I said stopping suddenly. "Tell me what's wrong, please, and don't say it's nothing because I know it's not."

He shook his head.

"Why can't you just tell me?" I begged.

"Don't you see it's not that simple?" he shot back, "I've wanted to tell you ever since I got back, but it's not that simple. Ann don't you see? I've tried to find a way to tell you but the words don't fit together right!" he looked up, tears brimming his eyes.

"Wes, please just tell me." I said holding his face in my hands. He sighed.

" We...we got an offer, to do a tour." he looked at me with sad eyes. I withdrew my hand from his cheek.

"Ho-how long?" my voice shook.

"8 months." he didn't look at me.

"No, I won't let you leave." I said crying.

"It's not that far, my love, I'll fly you in to visit, I promise, I love you." he said grabbing my shoulders.

I pushed him off.

"Not that far? Wes you're gonna be traveling all over the world. How can you tell me it's not that far!" I yelled.

His eyes pleaded with me but I knew what had to be done. He was moving on with his life, and who was I to hold him back? he was going to travel the world and meet new people, he shouldn't have to worry about me back home.

"Wes, I can't do it. What I'm about to say is going to crush me, and I don't know if I can look at you when I do." I said tears threatening to spill.

"You're moving on with your life, and I'm staying here. I know what's going to happen, so I'm going to get it over with." I had to pause to choke back tears. "I don't want to, but I'm gonna let you go, because it's what you deserve, to live your life, free and happy, and you can't do that with me here. I love you, but I've gotta let you go."

The look on Wesley's face was enough to make me want to die. I was watching his heart fall to pieces right before me. He shook his head and covered his face with his hands.

"But Anna." his voice was quiet, he sounded defeated. "What about love? What about always have, always will?" His voice began to raise "I loved you, I still love you, please don't leave me." His eyes pleaded desperately.

"Wes the last time you left my life was a living hell, I had no friends, no one to stand up for me, no one to protect me like you do. Now what am I suppose to do, its not just two weeks this time, it's eight months!"

He wiped his nose and looked at the ground.

"But if it's true love, is it really that far?" he asked rubbing the back of his neck.

"Im sorry, I love you" I whispered, "but I've gotta do this."

"I love you!" he whimpered "always have, always will!" I turned to leave but he grabbed my arm,

"Please." He pleaded, "We can make it work I promise."

"No Wes, I don't think we can that's the problem."

The sound of those words made me cringe. I turned on my heels and left him there alone in the park.
They say if you love something let it go, so that's what I did. Now I can only pray he comes back

I drove fast, too fast. The road was clouded by my tears and it's a Miracle I even made it home, but I wasn't even sure I wanted to, I didn't want a home without Wesley. When I pulled into the driveway I didn't even go inside. I couldn't, I needed to get away and think. I ran through the woods crying and stumbling over rocks and limbs. I didn't know where I was going but I kept running. I ran until I saw it. The cave, our cave. I ran to it and began to pound my fists into it

"Why!" I shouted "why does he have to go!" I kept pounding, ignoring the blood trickling from my knuckles. I pounded and cried until I couldn't anymore. I sunk to my knees and put my head in my lap. I didn't want to let him go, I loved him, but I had to. His words kept bouncing through my head

"But if it's true love, is three thousand miles really that far?"

It wasn't the distance I was worried about, it was the people and the things he'd find in between.

A voice called out my name so gently I thought it might be the wind.
"Landon?" I asked. "how did you know I was here?"
"Wesley called." he sighed taking place next to me and the cold ground.
"So I guess you know huh?" questioned, already knowing the answer.
"Yeah, Ann, I think you're making a big mistake. I-"
"Landon you don't understand" I interrupted.
"Then tell me please, help me understand." he urged scooting closer to me. "tell me how you can go from loving someone so deeply to leaving them just like that." he said snapping his fingers.
"Landon, I love him I really do, believe me, but it had to be done. He's leaving, moving on." I paused and looked to the trees as they dropped their leafy rain on us. "He's gonna find someone better and then.." I stopped again, unable to finish. I looked back at Landon, "I'm just getting it over with." Landon looked crushed by my words.
"How could anyone ever be better than you? You're the best thing that ever happened to Wesley. And me. You've been my bestfriend sine the first day I came here." He pulled me into his side, shielding me from the icy wind. "You have become more that's a friend to me, you've become my little sister."
"Landon" I said looking up at him. He looked back down with questioning eyes. "What?" He asked.
"I'm older than you." I laughed. He sighed and pulled me in tighter.
"Yep, you're a pain in the neck. but you're my pain in the neck."