A single tear rolled down Andy's cheek as she loaded the last of her belongings into the U-Haul attached to the rear of her cherry red convertible. This day was far too warm, too sunny for her mood; she felt suffocated by it all. A dark, stormy day would have been a more suitable backdrop for the way she had been feeling since it happened. The it that had ruined her life and left a hollowness inside of her.
Andy returned to the apartment, now empty of all material things, but still thick with memories. The thought of this place, where so many wonderful moments had taken place, made it impossible to hold back the tears any longer. Sobs shook her thin frame as she collapsed against the wall and slid to the floor limply. One particular moment stood out in her mind. A time when her life had been complete...
Andy took one look at James, as she lay in his arms, and happiness filled her entire being. This man was all she wanted, all she would ever need. His deep brown eyes let her know that he returned all her love and then some. She snuggled close to his chest and whispered in his ear. "I think I love you too much for my own good."
James knew she'd been hurt in the past and remembered how reluctant she'd been to even begin loving him. He smiled warmly at this girl who had captured his heart, and held her even more tightly than before.
"Don't worry An, I'll love you forever. I'll never leave you."
"Promise?"
"I promise you, An. I'll always be here for you. I'll always love you."
She sighed contentedly. "I love you too, James."
He had been all that she needed, but now he was gone. Gone forever.
A million thoughts and memories raced through her mind. She didn't know how to live without him.
'James broke his promise; he said he'd be here with me forever. But he left me all alone. I gave him my heart, completely, something I said that I'd never do. No man could ever fill his place in my life, in my heart. I will never love another man. I owe it to him; I owe it to myself.'
Andy pulled herself wearily up off the floor, wiped the tears from her face, and glanced longingly around the room one final time. She headed out to her car, determined to move on, to overcome the obstacles that had been thrown her way. With a sigh, she started the car and left the only town that had ever felt like home, hoping to leave the pain behind her. Attempting to overcome the deafening silence of the small vehicle, Andy clicked the radio on. 'How fitting,' she thought sadly, as she listened to the tune that she'd always loved and the words that she'd just begun to appreciate.
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this task and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life
'I did have the time of my life.' Fresh tears filled her eyes. 'I'll always remember you, James. I promise I won't forget..'
So a very determined Andy headed towards the South, towards a friend she couldn't wait to see. She hadn't seen Lizzy for a long time and missed her a lot. The girls had grown apart when Lizzy decided on college at TSU, while Andy stayed in Jersey, attending Princeton, but as far as Andy was concerned, the bond they'd once had was never broken. Hopefully, Lizzy felt the same and would lend comfort to an old friend, but Andy wasn't worried. In fact, the thought of seeing Lizzy again almost brought a smile to her face. Almost.
Andy had always been strong, and this was her chance to prove it to the world. It would just take a little time and a lot of determination. As she traveled toward her new home, she spoke aloud, in an attempt to convince herself that everything would be all right.
"Everything will be okay. I'll be happy again someday."
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