You + Me and Whatever in Between

11

*3 years later*

"Raine?" The Starbucks barista handed me my coffee and I thanked her.

Taking the coffee and sat at a near by table. Taking in the crowed around me. Britains were intriguing people, so kind, generous. The guy behind me even asked to pay for my coffee and when I politely declined his girlfriend insisted she do. You'd think after three years I would understand them more. Maybe even would act like them. But I was still a deep American. Rude, stubborn and obnoxious.

Keeping my cover low has honestly been the easiest thing I've ever done. Dyed hair, glasses for my now crap eyes, and returning back to my original eye color. Of course I've gotten the comments "you look just like America's passed presidents daughter." and I just smile and shake my head. If only they knew.

The only people who did actually know of my true identity was the United Nations. They approved me and my relocation and gave me the necessities I would need to start my new life.

The worst part of being somewhere new is leaving what and who you knew. Taryn helped me pack and we said our official goodbyes. With the relocation I couldn't have contact with anyone from my previous life. Not Taryn, not my siblings, not even Graham if I really wanted too. It was painful. I was given a birth certificate and cash. That was it.

"I can't believe you're leaving," Taryn's voice cracked slightly and her eyebrows furrowed together. "It doesn't make sense. It's not fair." The box she was taping dropped to the floor and she kicked it. Obviously releasing her frustration on an innocent box.

I went to her and placed the box from the floor to the table. "When has anything been fair with us?"

My hand grasped her chin to raise it to look at me. Her eyes were so glossy and her lip started to quiver. "You can't leave me. There's shit we haven't done yet. We haven't- I haven't- please please don't go."

She collapsed in my arms and our sobs filled the almost vacant room. I could do nothing but hold my best friends as we shared our final few hours together. Her mascara was ruined and snot stains were present on both of our shirts but it didn't matter to us. What mattered was being there in the final hours because neither one of us knew If I would ever come home.

Olivia and Jenson would be informed by the secret service men. They allowed me a FaceTime call at the airport and I felt my heart drop within my stomach. Olivia screamed with so much force she had began coughing. Her blue eyes were so bright from her tears and Jenson couldn't even look me in my eyes. I tried multiple times to express my love to him and he only nodded his head and mumbled things I couldn't understand. We ended the call with the most broken goodbyes I've ever heard of. Olivia could barely say it with her constant hiccuping. Jenson didn't even say it. He only looked at me, his green eyes held pain and betrayal and there was nothing I could say or do remove the look that was engraved in my brain. Apologies rolled from my tongue like a waterfall and I couldn't stop the flow from my eyes. I told them I loved them and only Olivia replied. Jenson just hung up the call. Agent Spears tried to tell me he did his best he could to inform them of the situation but it wasn't enough. I knew it wasn't but he tried.

Fran and Rebecca's goodbye became more of a see you later. They didn't allow me to cry or feel sad or upset. They kept calling it a new beginning, rambling on how much I deserved it. How much I needed something different and even though I wanted to be upset I couldn't help but agree. I deserved this. A change. A new life. I dreamed of it from the time my dad took office and now I finally got it. I was at their house for dinner the night before I left. Rebecca cooked my favorite meal. Her blonde hair swayed way past her hips and for a late 40 year old woman she still had it. Fran eyed his wife and the look she gave him back made my heart melt. They were in love, this was the love I dreamed of, the one I craved for. However, it was the only love I've ever seen. After dinner Rebecca and Fran walked me and stopped to give me something.

It was a locket, on one side a picture of him, her and I. They took me on their family portrait day and insisted I entered the family photo. I was 19. My dad was already gone and I was sad and alone. After that day they took me in. Even gave me the opportunity to take their name. Rebecca could never have kids and would ramble on about how God blessed them with me.

On the other side was a family picture of myself, my father, Olivia and Jenson. It was an off guard picture. Olivia was still a arm baby and dad was holding her. She was attempting to climb up how shoulder and my father's captured face was a open mouth smile. Jenson was about 8 or so and he was latched onto my waist his head against my stomach and my hand was rubbing his hair. It was absolutely my favorite picture. We weren't the first family. We weren't America's face. We were the Sanders.

I bursted into tears and engulfed them into a huge hug. Rebecca kissed my forehead and told me to stop crying unless they were tears of joy. Fran only gripped my shoulder like a proud father sending his daughter to college. I'll never forget what he said.

"Vida Makayla Sanders- Darly. God did not grace me with a child. He graced me with a blessing. You were and will always be the light in my eyes. Have made me so proud since I met you. My heart is full knowing I have loved you, and you have loved Rebecca and I. Promise you will live your life to the fullest. No more shy, no more timid. Don't take shit from anyone because darling. You've taken enough. No go, go on. Be free. Fly away butterfly."

What he said only made me cry more.

I looked up to the cloudy sky as I walked down the streets of London. "I'm flying away Fran. I've spread my wings."