Page 6 of Rewriting the Story

“Amelia—” I say, but she only grabs her suitcase and looks at me one more time, as if she’s stopping to memorize me.

Don't go. Don’t leave me here and run like you always do. You’re better than this. I know you, and I know you don’t actually want to break us. You’re scared of something, but I don’t know what.

We can fix this. We can make it work. Please, come back to me.

But she still turns around and walks away, leaving me stuck where I stand, the weight of our conversation making it hard to move.

I feel a pair of arms around me, and when I look down, Paige is giving me a hug.Did she know? Did she know the whole time that this was her plan?

“Get off, please,” I say, the words coming out strangled.

Paige lets go, and the moment she looks at me, her face falls. “What’s wrong?”

“We’re all upset, but—” Grant stops abruptly when hesees my face. “Hen?”

“She—” I can’t say it out loud. I can’t admit it because it doesn't feel real. I feel like I could wake up any moment to find Amelia curled into my side in her bed, and all would be okay.

I just need to wake up.Why can’t I wake up from this nightmare?Surely, it’s a nightmare. This can’t be how Amelia and I end.

“What happened?” Ella asks, concern lacing her voice.

“She broke up with me. It’s over.”

Surprise crosses all their expressions, and nobody says a thing.

I make a split second decision, and before I know it, I’m moving. I head for the elevator, buy the cheapest ticket I can to get through security, and run through the Virginia airport.

I have to see her. I have to talk to her one more time before she gets on that plane and leaves.

Part of me still believes I can change her mind, that maybe if I convince her we can get through the distance, it’ll be okay.

We have to be okay.

I love her, and I won’t lose her like this. If she’s afraid of this, of us, I’ll show her we can survive anything.

Her plane is already boarding, and I see her scanning her ticket at the desk.

“Amelia! Ames!” I shout, but she doesn't turn around. “Mills!”

She doesn't spare me a single glance as she gets on the plane, taking a piece of my heart with her.

The Bolter by Taylor Swift

One Hour Later

Howdoyouleavea place you’ve become so familiar with?

I thought it would be easier. I thought it would be like leaving home and going to college.

But it’s not. It’s different.

When I left home and moved around the corner to Grand Mountain, there was no ache. There was nothing physically or mentally screaming at me thatI was making the wrong decision. It’s the surest thing I’ve done—leaving home. I knew I had to do it. It felt right deep in my bones.

But this…this has all my alarm bells going off, even though yesterday, I was adamant this was the right move. This feeling will go away, I’m sure of it. As soon as the plane lands, I’m sure the excitement will kick in, and all these feelings will fade.

I know I broke his heart. I know I crushed him where he stood, and when I said those five words, I knew I couldn't take them back.

I’m breaking up with you.

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