Letting him Go (short story)

02| GoodBye

I felt a hand on my left shoulder and looked up, sniffling and wiping my tear soaked face.

Cody squeezed my shoulder lightly to calm me down as he tried to comfort me with a soothing smile. "Please don't cry, Paige. I know you'll find someone better, someone that won't leave your side no matter what. Someone that will care for you and make you happy, okay? Just stop crying," he spoke softly, moving both of his hands to hold mine.

Hearing those words only intensified my sadness and I pulled my hands out of his loose grip, covering my face again.

At this point, I had absolutely gone from barely crying to full out sobbing. Cody, on the other hand, looked as calm as he was minutes ago.

It seemed like the whole world had turned upside down right in front of me and there was nothing I could do to stop the pain.

I didn't care that the people around us were starting to glance our way, witnessing my misery.

After a few minutes of bawling my eyes out, I looked up just in time to see him glaring at the customers sitting by his left.

"When are you leaving?" I asked hoarsely, my voice raw with emotion.

He swallowed and looked down to his lap. "Tomorrow morning."

I quickly nodded even though he wasn't looking at me, and slowly stood up from my seat. I grabbed my jacket and started to walk away from our table, ready to get out of his sight when he suddenly called my name.

I stopped in my tracks immediately, eager to know what his last words would be, but I heard his footsteps coming closer to me instead.

I hesitantly turned around and stared into his eyes, foolishly hoping that he changed his mind somehow. But deep down I knew it was a lost case. It was over and there was no going back.

"This is the last time we'll see each other. I want us to say our final good bye properly. Shouldn't you at least give me a hug?" he asked softly, his eyes filled with warmth and sadness.

I looked down at his slightly spread arms before locking my gaze on his face again, inspecting every detail for the last time. I swallowed the lump in my throat and whispered, "Bye Cody," before practically running out of the cafe.

I managed to stop a taxi and tell my address to the driver without breaking down.

I couldn't believe that it was our last day together. I struggled to accept the fact that not only did he suddenly dump me, but he was also leaving town never to come back. And I wouldn't be seeing him ever again.

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When I got home, I was relieved that my parents weren't there to see the horrible state I was in. Even though I was already 19, I still lived with them taking a business course at the college near by.

They both still worked at the same office where they first met, and they used the same car too since they're together all the time.

They never approved my relationship with Cody, but I always hoped that he would prove them wrong. And now I wasn't ready to hear 'I told you so,' and 'I knew this would happen,' from my family and friends yet.