The following Saturday, I find myself sitting on the floor of my bedroom. My door is locked and I let the tears pour from my eyes as I look out my window one final time. Though I keep telling myself I will not cry, I allow myself this time to shed my final tears for Ethan. The sun rays coming through the window are warm on my skin, and I feel a lone tear drip down my face as the memory drifts into my brain.

My back rested on the light green leather chairs at terminal A as I waited for the boarding to start. I was about to start a brand new chapter in my life, and I should’ve been excited. Instead, I dreaded it.

Leaving Prescott and that god-awful hospital was exactly what I needed, but losing Ethan was never something I wanted. Did he even know I was gone? Would he even miss me?

My eyes filled with tears at the thought of never seeing him again. How I would never have him climbing into my bedroom late at night. Needing to say one last final good-bye, I pulled out my phone.

Me: I’m leaving. I’m sorry for the mess I caused you and your family. Take care of yourself. Leslie.

Within seconds of hitting send on the message, my phone vibrated in my hand. Nervously I answered it. “Hello?”

“What do you mean, you’re leaving?”

My lower lip quivered at the sound of Ethan's voice, a sound I had craved for months.

“You don’t have to worry about me anymore. You can go on with your life and do whatever it is that you’re doing.”

“Les don’t do this.”

I laugh, but it doesn’t stop the tears from falling. “Seriously. I was locked up in a hospital for three months and you ignored every single one of my calls, and now you’re telling me not to do this. You don’t have the right anymore.”

“I’m trying to make things right.”

“I’m going to Los Angeles. I’ll be studying at UCLA.” I paused for a quick second, not believing what I was saying but my heart refused to stop me. “Come with me. It can be our New York trip but on the other side of the country.”

“Leslie . . .” He said my name as if it pained him.

“Please,” I begged but there was no answer. “Please, Ethan. Please come with me.”

He sighed and I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. “I can’t,” he uttered.

Two simple words that destroyed every fiber in my soul.

I mustered the ability to say, “Take care,” and then hung up the phone with the last shred of dignity I had left. I was on my own and in that moment I made a promise to myself.

I would never come back to Prescott.

Gasping for air, I press my hands to my chest to calm my rapid heartbeat. When I'm finally ready, I stand up and say good-bye to my room one final time. Shutting the door behind me, I also close the final door to me and Ethan. A chapter that has finished.

My mother is standing at the bottom of the stairs waiting for me. Though she has a grin on her face, I can see the unshed tears in her eyes. Our relationship has grown tremendously over the past few months that it saddens me to leave her. ”Do you really have to leave so soon?" she asks before giving me a tight hug. 

I swallow back and nod. "I have a lot of work to catch up on and I'm assuming the merger there will some layoffs, too. I need to stay on top of my game."

My mother releases m. “Thank you for everything, Leslie. I’m so proud of the woman you’ve become. I will forever be grateful to what you did for us.” She hugs me once more and I glance over at my father. He is sitting on his recliner with the paper in his hands and a wide smile on his face. He knows all I ever wanted from my mother was her approval.

He reaches out for me. Though walking around without assistance is hard for him, he is getting better each day. The sight of him home makes me smile brightly. I walk over to him and grasp his hand. "Thank you again, Leslie, for everything. We wouldn't have survived these last few months if it weren't for you." His voice cracks on the last word and I lean down into his arms.

"Don't be silly."  I try to brush away the tears that threaten to pour again.  When I pull away there are tears in his eyes. "I'll see you both soon."

Once I told them both I had to leave and go back to work, I promised I would come back for a week in the summer. But the chances of that happening are slim. I’d much rather they come visit me instead. The faint horn outside the house lets me know my car service is here. Gently, I kiss my father on the cheek and walk over to my Mom to give her one final hug.

"Call me when you land?" she says, cupping my cheek. 

"Yes." I smile and nod.

We’ve grown tremendously over the past few months. For the first time, I feel we have the mother-daughter relationship I have always wanted. If the past few months have taught me anything, it’s that you can grow and let go of the past.

I lean in and kiss her on the cheek. “I love you, Mom.”  

She stares deeply into my eyes. “I’m so proud of you.”

I know we will never go back to where we once were.

With my suitcase behind me, I walk to the black sedan and say good-bye one last time to Prescott.