I started crying, too.
I cried because Karla was currently OK.
I cried because Mr.East didn’t blame me.
I cried because I missed my parents.
I cried because I missed my brother.
I cried because I hadn’t allowed myself to feel everything all at once before, and it was overwhelmingly hard and real and painful.
“Mr.East—”
“Greyson,” he corrected.
“Greyson... do you think I could see her? I just... I don’t want to leave without saying goodbye.”
“I think we can make that happen.”
27Karla
I was in the mental health clinic for a few weeks. My dad, Grandma Claire, Uncle Landon, and Lorelai showed up every single day to sit with me. It was no secret that I wasn’t at my best. I had such a heavy mind, such a broken heart, but I wanted to be better. I just didn’t know how to be.
Dad told me about how Ash was moving to North Carolina.
That hurt, too.
Everything hurt.
When Saturday came around, it was time for me to head home. Dad and Lorelai picked me up, and for the whole drive home, Lorelai held my hand. I didn’t want her to let it go. As we pulled up to the house, I saw a U-Haul truck sitting in our driveway. A woman was in the driver’s seat, and there was a boy sitting on our front porch steps.
Not just any boy.
My boy.
My friend.
Ash.
My heart skipped a few beats as embarrassment swelled in my chest. The last time he saw me, I was at my lowest. That made me want to crawl into a ball and hide.
“Dad?” I questioned.
He put our car into park. “He’s heading to North Carolina with his mother today, and he asked if he could say goodbye before leaving. If you’re not interested in talking to him, that’sOK, sweetheart, but... well, he truly cares for you, and I think you care for him. And I think you both deserve a proper goodbye.”
I nodded in agreement.
Dad and Lorelai walked toward the front porch first. Lorelai hugged Ash, and Dad squeezed his shoulder before they went inside, leaving Ash standing there alone on the front porch.
As I stared at him, he gave me a small wave and a tiny smile.
I walked past the U-Haul and gave a tight smile to his mom. She smiled back. He looked like his mother. An effortless kind of beautiful.
The moment I made it to the steps, Ash didn’t say a word; he just hugged me. I didn’t know how much I needed that hug until he gave it to me. I melted into him as if we were always meant to be bonded as one.
“Hi, friend,” he whispered as his cheek was pressed against me.
I held him tighter. “Hi, friend.”
