How I Got Here (28 page)

‘I need to go back for my mother’s sake; I’ve got a job in the city at a busy ER and I’ve got an apartment. You can’t ask me to stay because I can’t.’

‘But you can come back.’ She clings to his arm, ‘This doesn’t have to be permanent, you can come back and things can go back to normal, please you don’t see it yet but we could be good together.’

‘No we couldn’t I’m sorry.’ He shakes her arm away. ‘I won’t be coming back Melissa, my mind is made up.’

He’d already said his goodbyes to the rest of the town, at a leaving party they’d had for him the night before, so now with one last glance at the house he’d called home for months now, he got into his truck and drove away, heading back to live in the city he’d left a few months before, the city he never thought he’d live in again, and yet it wasn’t worry or anxiety he was filled with, it was excitement and hope. He hoped that his mother would be ok, she was recovering now from a long illness, but she was weaker and she could relapse, which is why he was moving back. He was excited to see his family again, and to properly make things up with Amanda, because after River’s letters, he couldn’t stay angry at Amanda any longer, and so they’d become closer again, but there was still a little way to go. Most of all he was excited to be starting a new chapter in his life, and glancing over at the full set of River’s letters on the passenger seat, he smiled and knew that he’d always have a part of her with him, no matter what happened.

Chapter Thirty Three

River 2

She could do this, it wasn’t so hard, and that’s what she was telling herself. It was the first day of college
and her parents had just left after helping her unpack into her new dorm. She was looking around her in awe, the building was old and beautiful, and the grounds were beautiful, trees scattered around all the paths, plenty of green grass where students could sit and study in nice weather, and then there was the library, which she’d already decided was going to be her favorite place.

She felt calmer the longer she was here, this place just felt right, it felt like she was supposed to be here learning all this new stuff, and taking on this new challenge, but there was one thing that wasn’t quite right yet, something she’d been nervous about the entire drive
to the college. Her eyes scan round again, and then she sees what she’s been looking for, or rather who. Leaning against one of the many brick archways is Oliver, smiling over at her the way he always used to smile at her, lovingly. She smiles brightly and runs over to him, jumping into his arms. He immediately wraps his arms around her waist and spins her around.

‘You came! I didn’t know if you’d get the message, I didn’t put it in very clearly, I wasn’t sure.’ She holds onto him tightly.

‘You told me you’d be starting here in September in your last letter; I had a time and a place. There is nowhere else I would be right now.’ He’d picked up on her reference the second time he’d read through the bundle of letters, in the very last one she’d said she needed time to get to know herself, and then she’d told him she was starting at this college in September, he’d figured that it was her way of asking him to come, and so he’d hopped in his car and drove to her.

‘I wasn’t sure; oh I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.’ She pulls away, ‘Coffee? Uh do you want to go for a coffee?’

‘Yeah sure,’ He takes her hand in his, lacing their fingers together as they walk towards a coffee shop. ‘So how are you? Really how are you?’

‘I’m good, I’m brilliant.’ They walk together happily hand in hand, finding a café and sitting outside at one of the metal tables. ‘I’ve gotten so much healthier; I’m good now, really good.’

‘I can tell you look good, you look healthy and happy, you are happy?’

‘I’m happy now.’ She assures him. ‘How are you? How are things? How’s New York?’

‘I’m good, things haven’t been better since I last saw you, and I’ll let you know how New York is when I move back.’

‘Move back? You moved?’

‘Yeah well so did you.’ He laughs, ‘It’s a long story.’

‘Then tell me, I like long stories.’ She laughs, and they sit together fillin
g each other in on all the news of their time apart.

Three hours, seven coffees, and endless conversation later he was walking her back to her dorm.

‘Ok so I’m going to be in town for a couple of days, I know you’ll be busy but I want to see you, a lot, and then I’m going to move into my new place, but I’ll be close by. You’ll keep in touch right? We’ll see each other?’ He faces her outside her room, ‘I can’t lose you again.’

‘You won’t, we’ll see each other all the time. I already told you, I’m good now.’ She holds his gaze.

‘So – we’re equals?’

‘I think that would be a fair assessment.’ She nods.

‘Good because I really love you.’

‘I was hoping you’d say that.’ She laughs shyly.

‘Oh yeah, why’s that?’

‘Because,’ she looks at him seriously, ‘I really love you too.’ She smiles; he leans in and kisses her softly. Finally they both feel like they’re ready to move on with their lives, together.