The Seven Stages of Happily Ever After

Four

The sun shines down on us as we pick our respective fruit for the week. It's the start of my third month in Greece and I am already dreading going home at the end of it.

The past two months have been the best of my life.

Leo and I have spent every day together, and we're as thick as thieves. We've formed a friendship so deep, I know we'll keep it for the rest of our lives. He's already talking about coming to see me in North Carolina, claiming he wants to see this place in the "south". He even added the air quotes as though I was pulling his leg and a place such as this didn't exist.

"There's a party tonight." Leo tells me, as he tosses me an apple to inspect. I look it over, nod, and toss it back for him to put into his basket. He's seen the light, and also loves a bowl of fresh fruit for breakfast now.

"Are we going?" I ask, looking over the bananas.

He smirks. "Would I be me if I didn't say yes?"

I laugh, "That settles it then." I conclude, smiling at the vendor before picking up three bananas and heading toward the grapes. I glance back, finding Leo staring down at his phone with a frown. I've never seen him troubled and know who it is without asking. He walks off, pressing the phone to his ear. I feel my heart break as I watch the way his shoulders fall.

In the two months I've known him, I've realized how he laughs to hide the trouble in his heart. His responsibilities weigh him down; and he's running from them. He'd never admit this, and I would never tell him the true: but that's what it is. The truth.

He was born into a prominent, family and is expected to uphold the family business and legacy. But he harbors such bitterness toward his Dad for wanting to rule his life while never being there for him. His Mom died when he was only seven, and he was left in the care of his nanny, while his Dad ran around England, bringing home different women to meet Leo every month.

Now, his Dad's health is failing from cancer, and Leo is running from it. He refuses to face it, claiming it's because he was never there for him so why should he care.

I've tried to put myself in that position. If Ellen suddenly appeared in my life, wanting a relationship, I would tell her to screw herself and leave me alone. I've forgiven her for leaving me: and I prefer it stay that way. I've made my peace, and I want to move past it.

But Leo hasn't made peace, and that means he can't move past it.

We've only known each other for two months, and while he's someone I care deeply for, I don't know if it's my place to tell him how it is. His father is dying, and he's running.

My heart broke for him when he told me about it: but he laughed it off. Still, when he gets calls from home, he can't cover the pain on his face with a laugh.

When he returns ten minutes later, I've paid for my basket full, and am waiting on the stairs for him. He smiles when he sees me, but I notice it doesn't reach his eyes. My heart aches.

"You paid already?" He calls, placing his hands on his hips.

"You took too long," I joke, though even I hear the sadness in my voice. He shakes his head at me, before going to pay. His defense is to pretend nothing's happening.

So, I'll let him.

I lean my head back, basking in the sunshine as I listen to the sound of the waterfall. This has quickly become our spot, and I always feel at peace her. Leo got another call and has been gone for I don't know how long. I stopped counting the seconds in my head once I'd tallied ten minutes. I was getting a headache.

Opening my eyes, I lean forward, looking out over the water. A part of me wishes I could dive in, but I didn't wear my swimsuit today and I don't want to run back up here naked in case Leo decides to grace me with his presence.

I frown at my thoughts, knowing it isn't fair to judge Leo so harshly. He's helped me so much since I've been here and has become such an incredible friend. I need to support him in his decisions.

"Sorry about that," Leo mutters, once he's come back over to me. He doesn't bother hiding his sour mood this time, and I send him a small smile in response, letting him mull over his issues in silence.

I want to help him, but I don't know how. I search my mind for something to say, but I'm coming up blank. I don't know if I should ask if he's okay or try to change the subject. So, we sit there. For the first time since we met, this silence isn't comfortable. There's a tension between us because we both know he needs to talk about his feelings.

The sun starts to go down, and I make a move to stand up, intent on heading back down the cliff before nightfall when Leo's voice stops me from moving. "My Dad's getting really bad." He tells me quietly. I slump back down, inhaling sharply as my heart aches for him.

I glance over at him, pulling my knees to my chest and squeezing them close. "Are you going to go home?" I ask, my voice sounding timid.

Leo's jaw tenses, and he looks down, giving a small shake of his head. "Why should I give him my time? He never gave me his."

I repress my sigh, not wanting to upset him. We've had this conversation three times already, but I've never stated my opinion. We lapse back into silence, and I close my eyes.

My Mom always says that nothing happens by accident. She doesn't people in coincidences- she believes in fate. We don't people don't meet by accident. She always tells me we'll meet the people we're supposed to impact; even if we only know them for a short while or for the rest of our lives- we're meant to teach them something, and in turn, learn something from them.

Swallowing roughly, I open my eyes and turn to Leo. "Parents are human, Leo." I say quietly, "They make mistakes too."

Leo's quiet for a moment. He won't look at me, and I wonder if I've gotten through to him and if I did it was easier than I thought. But then he lets out a ruthless laugh, and I feel my heart brace for impact as he looks at me, anger in his eyes.

"Easy to say for the girl who's only problem is her boyfriend dumped her."

I gape up at him, unbelieving of what he's just said. His words cut me deeper than I imagined they would: but they also make me angrier than I imagined. How could he say that when I've told him about Ellen? I opened up to him about the insecurities I've faced my whole life from her not wanting me. I opened up to him about everything, and he only thinks I'm heartbroken over Luke.

"At least I'm not running from the people who love me." I counter, glaring back at him. My anger rarely gets the better of me, but I can't stop the words from tumbling out.

Leo turns to me, jaw locked as he glares back. "At least I'm not running from the fear of being alone."

We stare at each other, before I turn away, staring down at the water. Anger still swells inside of me, but I refuse to leave. I refuse for this night to end this way. It appears I wasn't the only one who needed to hear the truth.

He's absolutely right.

I'm running from my insecurities. I'm running from the fear that no one could love me because of Ellen and now Luke. I'm running from creating my own way, loving myself enough that no one can stop me from being my own person. I'm running from a future I could create, alone. I'm running, and I need to stop.

After a few tense moments of silence, Leo sighs, and wraps his arm around my shoulder. I don't hesitate to lean against him, closing my eyes. All the tension between us disappears, and I squeeze his hand that's resting on my shoulder, holding onto it.

"Let's pretend you're finding yourself, and I'm seeing the world."

"Deal."