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Excitement takes over. “We never found someone to take over the lease from my old apartment, so I guess we’re actually going to be neighbors. Real neighbors! Oh my God, we’re going to have so much fun! You can come here all the time, and we’ll eat together and cook together, and have sleepovers!” She gasps, then shouts, “We are gonna have so much fun!”
I bite my lip over my smile.
Monday can’t come soon enough.
Chapter Two
Helena
Four days later…
Taping up the last of the boxes, I look around my room. It looks so…bare. The walls are bare. The floor is bare. The bookshelves are bare.
My room is naked.
I don’t know how I feel about that.
If the pang in my chest is anything to go by, I’d say it makes me sad. This room has been mine from the day I was born. I played in this room, grew up in it, sought comfort, and hid away from the world in here.
This room has been good to me. I’m going to miss it.
Now, all that’s left of it are the eight boxes on the floor. I’ve organized for movers to come this afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised when I found out my new workplace would cover the entire expense. Asher called yesterday to let me know the apartment was getting a spring clean by all the girls and would be ready by Monday. Nat also let me know it had most of the furniture still in it from when she lived there, so I won’t need to spend a lot to set myself up.
I offered to pay for the extras in the apartment, but Nat refused while using a ton of cuss words. But, of course, I argued, which made Nat use some nastier words. Suddenly, Ash took the phone and simply said, “You aren’t paying for shit, girl. You just get your ass down here. You wanna thank me? Feed me.”
There really is no arguing with Asher. He’s firm like that.
A final sweep of my room reveals one last thing I need to do, but I’m torn. My Johnny poster still hangs behind the door.
It’s time.
But I’m not ready.
It’s time. He’s had a good life. Let go.
Brain is right. It’s time. I need to let him go.
Walking to the door, I stare into Johnny Depp’s eyes and my gut sinks. “I’m sorry. You’ve been a good imaginary boyfriend, but I’m a grown-up now. There’s no room in my life for a boyfriend. Not even an imaginary one.” But he just stares at me. “Don’t look at me like that.” But he does. He’s torturing me.
I sigh tiredly and rub at my forehead. “Don’t make this any harder than it has to be. Please, Johnny. It’s over.” I’m getting a headache. I take my time pulling him down with the utmost care, rolling him up and putting a rubber band around him. I hold him in my hands and walk him over to the recycling bin. I lift the lid and put him in. I slowly close the lid and turn around.
My mother stands there, looking from me to the bin. I nod solemnly and whisper, “It was time.”
She smiles and shakes her head, and with a heavy heart, I let my first love go.
***
Ten minutes later…
My sock-covered feet slip around on the kitchen tiles. Hyperventilating, I open the cupboard under the sink and dig through the recycling ‘til I find him. I clutch Johnny to my heaving chest and turn to find both my parents having coffee at the dining table. They eye me with worry.
“I thought I could do it.” I clutch Johnny harder. “I can’t do it. He’s coming wi
th me.”
As I walk back to my room with Johnny in hand, I breathe a sigh of relief.
I’m sorry, Johnny. Let’s never fight again.
