summer in the city 「 s.stan 」

DAY 31

— AUGUST 31ST —

As soon as you opened your eyes, you wanted to cry. You would've broken down if it hadn't been for Sebastian, who was already awake, pulling you closer to him and sweetly kissing your cheek.

Your last few hours with him.

Desperately trying to ignore the extremely upsetting reality of the situation, you snuggled into his side, wrapping your legs around him as if you were a koala. There wasn't an inch of space to separate the two of you, and that was exactly how you wanted it. If this was possibly the last time you'd ever be able to lay with him, you needed to make it count.

Beside you, Sebastian was barely holding it together. He didn't try to speak; if he opened his mouth, he knew he would likely burst into tears. So he remained silent.

You stayed that way for a while, the stillness interrupted every so often by gentle kisses and fleeting touches. What you wouldn't give to live in that moment forever – warm and safe, completely relaxed in his embrace.

After almost an hour of hazy, sleepy cuddling, your alarm went off, signalling that you had to leave for the airport in two hours. Reluctantly, you rolled out of bed, sniffling slightly because it almost physically pained you to be even a foot away from Sebastian, let alone almost three thousand miles away.

"Shower with me?" you asked. And he was up like a shot, jogging into the bathroom with an urgency that made you giggle tearfully.

Of course, the shower turned sexual – how could it not, when you were both naked and shut into a confined space together? But this time, it was different. Softer, slower, what could only be described as lovemaking, which was a first. A first, but probably a last, too.

When you were both fully clothed, fed and ready to go, you texted your friends, telling them that you'd be meeting them at the airport in half an hour. And, just like that, you were leaving the apartment that you'd spent the last month in.

You had a strange urge to walk around, almost to bid goodbye to each individual room, but you didn't – that would only make everything more real, more heart wrenching. So you walked outside with your lips pressed into a thin line, not looking back.

The journey to the airport was short and largely quiet. Sebastian had tears in his eyes, which threatened to spill over when you placed your hand on his knee, squeezing comfortingly.

"This is it?" he spoke shakily as he shut off the engine. "Our... our last..."

He couldn't finish his sentence, but you knew what he meant. Trying to muster even the tiniest bit of optimism, you shook your head.

"I'm not forgetting about you, y'know?" you murmured. "I hope you know that. You'll never be able to get rid of me now."

Despite himself, he chuckled. "I wouldn't want to. God, I love you. So much."

"I love you too. So, so much."

Those were the last words you said to each other.

When your bags were checked and you received the message that your flight was boarding, you finally let your tears run freely down your face. One by one, Allie, Sophia and Luca all hugged you, saying their goodbyes, before politely stepping away to give you and Sebastian some much needed space.

You practically collapsed into his arms, kissing him as if the world was ending. He rocked you back and forth, resting his forehead against yours for a good minute or so, before he had to let you go.

It really did feel like everything was happening in slow motion. Your friends waved cheerily as you walked away. Sebastian stood still, tense and almost sobbing and heartbroken.

You looked back, just one last time, before you were through the gate.

Your friends were gone.

Sebastian was gone.