All her dreams were voided.
Later in life, I would stare up at the Eiffel tower, thinking of her.This one’s for you, Izzie.And every time I get my hair styled, I picture her, hands dancing above my head, her infectious smile brightening up the whole salon, her witty chatter filling the air. Truth be told, I’ve thought about her every single day of my life.
And that will never change.
Gavin took me in his arms again. “Oh, Abigail,” was all he said.
There was nothing more to say.
* * *
My whole beingswells when I see Noah’s message.
Can we talk? Can I come over?
Of course I envision a wonderful reunion and an amazing kiss and make-up session. I’m imagining his mouth on my skin as I reply.
Sure. Now?
—
Coming right over.
I scramble to make myself look good. I dab on some tinted lipgloss and tousle my hair. I gargle some mouthwash and wipe my armpits with Secret. There’s no time to change, but I don’t look too bad in my Lululemon yoga pants and tank top.
When I swing the door open, I’m shocked by his haggard appearance. He looks like he hasn’t slept in days, and seems completely wrecked.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hi,” he replies, but it’s not a sexy hi. “Can I come in?”
I close the door behind him, and we walk over to the living room. I can already feel something amiss. As soon as we both sit down, I ask him, “Have you been awake all night?”
He nods at the floor. He can’t seem to make eye contact with me. After a long pause, he finally says, “I’ve been packing all night.”
My heart sinks. He’s leaving.
“You’re leaving? Where? You have months left on your lease,” I point out. “Your piano…” I know for a fact that it cost him a small fortune to move that thing. I finally ask him the question I really want to know. “Why?”
He finally manages to look at me. “Because you and I aren’t meant to be. It would be too hard to be next to you every day.”
I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “We hadonelittle fight, Noah,” I argue. “Are you really going to break up with me over that?”
“It’s more than that…” his words trail off. “I just need to go.”
“Where are you going?”
“I can get in the building I was in before,” he tells me. “There’s an opening. Not the condo I was in before but—”
“We can keep in touch then,” I point out. “You won’t be that far.”
He shakes his head, and my heart crumbles. “We can’t, Abby. I’m sorry.”
“I can change. I won’t be so nosy. I won’t ask any more questions, I swear.” I realize I’m begging, but I don’t care. “You need to give us another chance. I love you, Noah.”
My breath hitches as I realize what I’ve just said.
Pain is etched in every line of his face. He’s hurting as much as I am. “I love you too, Abby.”
