Page 90 of Rewriting the Story

“Paigey, you’re not lifting a thing!” Grant says as she goes for her suitcase. “Neither are you, Hades.”

“You’re going to get all of this stuff downstairs by yourself?” Hads questions him. “No way.”

She grabs a suitcase in each hand as he drags a hand down his face.

“Just go with them, G,” I say as I head for the door, but he stops me with his arm across my body. “What?”

“I have something for you,” he says as he grabs a small box from the table and hands it to me. “I don’t know what it is, but he gave it to me before he left and told me to give it to you.”

I stare down at this small box, wondering what Henry could have given Grant for me before he left. Part of me is sure I should never open this box, just leave us in the past. But the selfish part of my brain feels like there is hope behind this gift, whatever it is.

“Do you want to open it now? I can leave—”

“Stay. Please. If I’m alone, I’ll go insane or something,” I say as I carefully open the box, a small note falling out. As Grant reaches for the note, I’m shocked by what I see staring back at me.

The necklace Henry once bought me—the one I gave back to him—shines back at me, and my heart is going to explode. He gave it back. Why did he give it back?

“Here,” Grant says as he hands me the small paper. “I only read some of it, and it’s not my fault. It’s not folded.”

I chuckle as I take the necklace out of the box, already fastening it around my neck. As soon as it's around me, I feel calmer. I don’t knowwhat’s in this necklace, or maybe it’s a psychological thing, but it has always been helpful in calming my racing mind.

This was never meant to be mine. It will always belong to you. Take care of it and yourself, Mills.

I hope you find what you’re looking for, and someday, maybe I can hear all about it.

Never forget you were loved by someone, even if it was only for a moment. This necklace is proof of that.

– H

A tear slips from my eyes before I can stop it. Grant says nothing as he wraps me in his arms, comforting me when it’s the furthest thing I deserve right now.

Henry Hayes is proof I can be loved, and I had it, even if it was momentary. It still existed, and that’s enough.

Ican’tstopstaringat the note he left me. None of us have said anything during the drive back besides Ella getting mad at the traffic and Leo trying to calm her down. Neither of them asked me about the tears in my eyes when Grant and I got down to the car, and my brain is spiraling in about forty different ways.

Henry and the love we shared was…God, it was legendary. It was everything.

But does what I did negate it all? I don't think it can, but maybe in his mind, it does. All I can see when I close my eyes are his somber, broken, and disheartened eyes. Until he’s out of my system, my memories, my everything, I think that’s all I’ll see.

“Amelia?” Ella’s eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. “Did you hear what I said?”

“No.” I grab my headphones out of my ears. They’re not even on. That’s how I know I’m struggling—I didn't even bother turning on my music to cloud out the rest of my thoughts.

“Told you, darling.” Leo smirks. “Did Grant try to clone you or something? Did he make you do a blood oath while you two were up there?”

“No, but weirdly enough, both of those things have almost happened,” I laugh. “I’m just thinking about Henry. He gave me back my necklace before he left.”

“I noticed you wearing it when you came back down. I was going to ask about it, but I didn't want to press,” Ella says. “You know he’s not going anywhere, right? And neither are you, might I add.”

“What do you mean?” I ask her.

“Just because your mind thinks this is the end doesn't mean it has to be. Henry is in Virginia. You’re in Virginia. It’s never really over until you both decide it is. Did you guys talk about that in any of your arguments—I mean, conversations?”

That earns an eye roll, but I know she’s coming from a place of love. “We never explicitly stated it was completely over, I guess. But that feels like a technicality, Ells. I don’t know if Henry can ever get past what I did to him.”

“The girls and I did,” she reminds me. “Granted, what you did to him was a lot worse—”

“True that,” Leo jumps in. “Sorry.”

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