close your eyes and feel me

7

The farewell between Charlotte and her family were warm and lovely, but strangely not sad. Weirdly for everyone, it felt like Charlotte's departure was a natural thing, not because they didn't want her at home, but more because they hoped that her time in Sanditon would make her happier. Everyone could feel her deep desire for simply more out of life. 

Both father and mother held their daughter tightly between their arms, with pride and love. Everyone knew that Charlotte was made for adventure, and after her time in Sanditon, they realized she was made for the excitement and the intrigue of high society. 

- "You are so lucky, my dear Charlotte",  said her mother while cupping her face tenderly, "to have been gifted those opportunities that will lead you as far as you want."  She finished with a gentle kiss on her forehead and so did her father after hugging her.

Charlotte said goodbye to her siblings and finished with the now eldest in the house, Allison. Her hands together, the two sisters looked at each other with love.

-"It terrifies me... How willing you are to open yourself to the world, Charlotte. Especially after it had hurt you like it did."Said Allison while holding back her tears.

- "There is nothing more terrifying than life itself", she looked at their family then back at her, "but I don't think my life would have any worth if I didn't do anything out of it."

The two sisters ended up hugging each other tightly. 

Charlotte got into the carriage and felt weird. She gave a last look out of the window and wondered if she would come back one day.

As her family waved her goodbye, they did it with the conviction that their Charlotte was now gone, and all of them secretly knew she would probably never come back to live with them. This time, none of her siblings, not even the youngest, ran after the carriage while she left.

Charlotte Heywood was not married, but it did felt as if she had engaged herself to something that would hold her back from their life.

Miss Heywood seemed to be destined to be the bride of adventure.

Back in Sanditon, Sidney Parker's situation was becoming more complicated as he was woken up that day by a feminine voice tinted with both surprise and anger.

- "What on earth is happening here, Sidney?" Exclaimed Eliza while standing in front of him.

Sidney woke up quickly, half of his face feeling sticky by the alcohol on the counter of the bar. Surprised, he looked at his fiancée.

- "Eliza, what are you doing here?"

- "What do you mean, what am I doing here? We're  engaged, Sidney, we cannot spend all this time separated, what would people think?" Exclaimed Eliza while looking around herself, as if there were anyone who actually cared how much time apart the young couple were spending.

His head was heavy and all the sounds of life around him were too loud.

- "I suppose you won't like what I have to say, then." Stated the drunk man.