Both of them smiled, taking their anxiety away for a moment. I knew it was only brief, just delaying the inevitable.
“Are you going to be okay?”
Sighing, I didn’t know whether I was or not. All I knew was I had to be. I had no other choice. I had made the decision to be here and live out my life. Why I wanted to, I didn’t know. All I had to go by was the fact I was keen to be here and wanted to help for the greater good. Maybe that was enough. I was never to know the isolation I would feel living a life like this. The one thing I had to hold onto from all of this was my family. Billy and Chris were my life and I had to be okay for them.
“I’ll be fine, Michael. Don’t worry about me. I’m made from tough stock.”
Michael chuckled. “I know you are.” Scratching his head, he placed a hand on my shoulder. “Listen. You will never be alone. There will always be someone looking out for you. Simeon is still here. He’s more than willing to stay as long as he needs to.”
Michael saw the pain in my face and tightened his grip on my shoulder. “I know he looks like Stephen, he even sometimes acts like Stephen, but he is a good guy and will protect you just as well as I could.”
I felt the pang of sympathy for Stephen. I knew Michael had a right to hold Simeon in such high regard—he was his brother, after all—but I felt Stephen would never get that kind of respect from his siblings. No matter how hard he tried.
Deciding it would be best not to say anything about it, I smiled. “I know, Michael. Thank you for everything.” I couldn’t stand it anymore. I rushed into Michael’s arms one last time, letting a sob escape. “You take good care of Luana, you hear?”
Michael laughed. “I hear.”
Pulling away, I rushed into Luana’s arms. Tilting my head up to her ear, I whispered, “Take good care of him for me, Luana.”
I felt her nod as she pulled away. I wiped away her tears and joked, “Hey, I’m the emotional mess here, not you. There’s only room for one.”
Luana shrugged. “Hey, what can I say? You bring it out in me, I guess.”
Luana turned and was in Michael’s arms as they prepared to leave. “So what happens now? Do you disappear in a cloud of smoke or something?”
They both laughed, but I could see the sadness in their eyes. They were going to miss it here. “I had to take care of a few things this morning, but we had to come by and say goodbye. After we leave here, Luana and I are going to ride on my bike one last time.”
I smiled, seeing the glistening of tears through my eyes. “You’re going to ride off into the sunset together. I like that.”
Michael tapped my shoulder. “I thought you would.”
We stood there for a few seconds, the air around us thick with apprehension, tension, and awareness that this was the end.
Finally, Michael broke the silence. “We better go.”
I nodded. “Of course.”
Leading them to the door, I stood as they stepped outside. I kissed Luana, who ran off in a flurry of tears. Once she was gone, I was left with Michael, holding his hand.
“I’ll never forget you, you know. You were the first person with whom I ever truly felt in love. That’s something I can never let go of—no matter what.”
Michael grabbed me and pulled me to him for a swift hug. I breathed him in again. I was like an addict and I couldn’t help getting one last fix.
“I will never forget you, either, Cassie. But you are wrong about one thing.”
Pulling away from him, I searched his face. “What?”
Michael grabbed my hand and kissed it. “You have to find that out for yourself, Cassie. Remember what I said. Don’t ever give up.”
Nodding my head, I stood silent and watched as his hand fell away from mine. Feeling the loss of contact made me want to beg for Michael to come back. I just couldn’t imagine my life without him in it.
Walking down the stairs, he turned to give me one last wave. “I will pray for your happily ever after, Cassie.”
If I thought my heart couldn’t take anymore, I was wrong. I stood there as I watched a man I loved like a brother now walk away. “Thank you,” I whispered towards him as he turned the corner. “Be happy, Michael.”
Chapter 13
I barely had time to breathe before the doorbell rang again. I was supposed to be on my way to Uncle Billy’s house, but all this had just knocked me for a loop.
Getting up from the sofa, I wiped away my tears. I hoped it was Michael coming back, but I knew that wasn’t likely. To my surprise, it was Paul.
“Oh, my god, Cassie. What’s happened? Is it because Michael’s leaving?”