DOA

Prologue

"Please don't leave."

"You know I have to babe. I don't want to leave you but I have to my parents aren't going to leave me for year while they are on a completely different continent."

I sighed but nodded knowing what he was saying was true but still wishing he wouldn't leave me. I keep myself from crying telling myself I still have two weeks left to spend with him. He puts a hand under my chin lifting my head up to meet my eyes.

"We still have a couple weeks Lis we will make the absolute best out of them okay?"

I give a small smile and nod, "I love you Maddox Prescott Porter."

He smiles back at me, "I love you Hollis Camille Stratton."

--

The two weeks pasted by quickly, too quickly and before I knew it I was standing in an airport at five in the morning saying good bye to the love of my life.

We walked towards the entrance for his flight his parents walking in front of him. I had one of his suitcases rolling behind me and his other one behind him our hands intertwined. I looked a mess, I had spent all night crying in his arms. My long caramel hair was in a messy and crooked bun and I was in sweat pants and favorite his shirt. I had driven them here seeing as they weren't going to leave their car at the airport for a year. We had spent one day last week packing up all the things in their house and moving it to a storage unit where their car was, since they would be renting out the house while they were gone.

I look up at Maddox and take in his appearance. He was in joggers and a sweatshirt messy brown his hair covered by a baseball cap with our dream college on it. His eyes matched mine, puffy and red from the night before. He was still handsome as ever. He turned to look at me his hazel eyes met mine and he smiled down at me and lifted my hand kissing it softly.

"This is the first call for the 5:30 flight to Mali, Africa."

I close my eyes as the words are spoke taking a deep breath. This was it, it was time.

"Thats us Maddox," his mom calls out to him. His parents walk over to us and his mother wraps me into a tight hug and I immediately hug her back.

"Take care of yourself Holly," she whispers into my ear.

"You too Hannah."

She pulls back not completely letting me go. She wipes away a few tears that made their way down my face.

"We are gonna miss you so much sweetie," she puts her hands on my cheeks, "Never forget that we love you okay. We will be back in no time okay, stay strong until then." I nod understanding her words.

"I love you Hannah. Thank you for everything you've done for me the past two years," I say. She smiles and hugs me again before kissing my cheek. Hannah backs up a bit dabbing her face as her husband takes step towards me.

"Bye kiddo, I'm gonna miss you and your pancakes." I laugh and shake my head at him.

"Im gonna miss you too Leon. You and your jokes." He smiles and gives me a tight hug. "See you in a year Hollis." He says.

"See you in a year." I repeat to him. I smile as he squeezes my shoulder.

"We will wait for you in the waiting area Maddox." Hannah says before taking Leon's hand and walking away.

Once his parents turn and start walking away I'm wrapped up into a tight hug by Maddox and without hesitation I hug him back. I feel my tears wetting his sweatshirt and his wetting my shirt. We pull apart after a few minutes both our eyes puffy and red again. I wipe away his tears and place my hands on his face.

"Don't forget me," I say softly stroking my thumb on his cheek. He leans his head into my hand and mumbles, "Never." We smile at each other he takes my hands into his. He steps back and sticks his hand out I laugh but smack it and we do our handshake. He spins me around and dips me before giving me a soft kiss as he lifts me up our foreheads touch and we close our eyes and just hold one another breathing each other in.

"I love you Lis."

"I love you Maddy"

He backs up still holding my hand, smiling he lets go and begins walking towards his parents.

I watch him as he walks into the hallways towards the plane he turns back to look at me I wave goodbye and he does too. Taking a deep a turn around and head back to my house day one of three hundred and sixty-five days.