I Had To Leave You

Chapter 2: Dear Ruby

Dear Ruby,
I'm so sorry that I couldn't tell you this in person, I just can't stand it when I see you cry. By the time you're reading this, I'm on the plane to North Carolina. I didn't want to leave you, you know I never would, but I had to. I'm going to miss you so much, I don't know how I'm going to live without hearing your voice every day but I'm going to have to find a way. I love you so much, don't you ever forget that. And I would appreciate it if you accepted this gift and never took it off.
I love you and will miss you.
~Liam.

I couldn't believe what I was reading. Liam was gone, on the other side of the world, and he didn't tell me he was going? So what if he didn't like to see me cry? I still have the right to know! I read the note again, then my eyes fell on the small square black box on the bench. It had a small square of paper attached to it and my name was written in Liam's loopy handwriting. I picked it up and opened it, a silver ring with a dark blue sapphire in the middle sat in a slit in the white foam. Tears began to pickle my eyes as I lifted it out of the box and slipped it onto my middle finger, then tears began to stream down my cheeks as I let out a strangled sob. He was my only friend, what was I gonna do now? I covered my face with my hands as I stumbled over to the couch and collapsed onto it, I really should be getting ready for school but I couldn't, knowing that I would truly be alone.
Having said that, mum wasn't here either. I wondered if she had driven them to the airport. I wondered if she even knew about them going to America, or if she would be just as surprised and heartbroken as I was.

After an hour of only hearing my own sobs, I decided to call mum. I searched for my phone and dialled her number. She picked up on the third ring.
"Hey, love. Did you read Liam's note?" Her voice cracked over the phone.

I could tell she was in a car so maybe she was on her way back now.

"Yeah-" my voice cracked and I cleared my throat. "Yeah, I did. When are you going to be home?"

She hesitated a moment before saying: "I'll be home in a few hours okay baby? Will you be alright to get to school on your own?"

"Y-Yeah, I'll catch the bus, " looks like I was going to school.

"Okay, I love you, "

"I love you to mum, " I muttered before hanging up.

I sighed and trudged up to my bedroom, changed into my school shorts and shirt, then got a bowl of crunchy nut corn flakes.

After walking from the bus stop to school, my legs were kinda tired. It was almost a two km walk and, because I'm so lucky, we had P.E for my first lesson. I asked if I could sit out due to personal reasons and I pretty much used that excuse for the entire day with every lesson that included socializing.

I caught the bus home and used the spare key that was hidden in the plant to unlock the door. I peered behind me at Liam's house and a huge for sale sign was out the front. Tears strike again and I ran inside and slammed the door behind me before collapsing into a sobbing, crying mess on the floor.

   After a few minutes, I realized that I was the only one in the house and I, once again, wondered where mum was. I pulled my phone out and called her again. She didn't pick up so I suspected that she was at work. She worked at a shipping company, she planned everything and scheduled when containers and things should be dropped off at certain sites. She was always busy but she usually answered her phone if I called in case it was an emergency.
I shuffled up to my room and collapsed onto my bed. I slowly started to fall asleep and dreams of Liam taunted me.

"Let's go to school so I can learn useless things and see all of those people don't even like and make small talk with brainless idiots, " I muttered angrily to myself. "Who wouldn't love that? Because my life isn't already bad enough, let's go see other annoying, brutal, idiotic kids."

I went downstairs expecting my mother to be there, but she wasn't. I hadn't seen her since before Liam left and I was starting to worry. What if she didn't come back? Would she leave me here on my own? No, mum would never do that. She loves me. A blip sound from my phone caught my attention and I checked it, I had a message from mum.

Mum- Sorry baby, I can't come home. I won't come home so please look after yourself, I left my credit card and that has around ten thousand dollars on it so use it wisely. I love you.

Ruby- WHAT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE NOT COMING BACK?

Phone- sorry, this number does not exist. Please check to see if you have to right number.

My face paled as I continued to try and text and call her. It didn't work. I began to hyperventilate. Everyone was leaving me, first Liam, then mum. They were the only people who cared about me. Who I thought cared about me. They said they would always love me and be there for me.

THEY LIED.