Page 184 of Glitched Play

Another pause.

"I guess..." My voice cracks. "I guess he always planned for me to leave."

"Did he tell you that?"

"No."

"Did he ask you to move out?"

"No."

"Then what happened?"

I laugh through my tears. "He didn't have to… he told Dara."

Silence settles between us.

Then Mom speaks so softly I almost miss it.

"Maci..."

"Yeah?"

"When someone loves you... don't decide for them that they're saying goodbye."

Fresh tears spill down my cheeks. "I thought... I really thought he…”

"I know. I heard the way you talked about him after your trip.” She exhales. "You don't imagine that kind of happiness."

"But what if I imagined the future?"

"Honey..." Her voice is calm. "The people we love sometimes make mistakes. And sometimes... we make the mistake of deciding what they meant before they have the chance to explain."

I stare at the open closet.

"What if I'm wrong?"

"Then you'll apologize."

"And if I'm right?"

"You'll survive."

"I don't want to survive." A sob escapes before I can stop it."I wanted... him.”

Mom let’s out a long breath. The kind that comforts. “I know, sweetie. I know.”

She lets me cry for another minute before saying quietly, "If he's your forever... he'll come after you."

I suck up my tears. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you more."

The call ends.

I wipe my face, picking up another armful of clothes and throwing them into the box. More Important Stuff.

Keep packing. I don’t want to be where I’m not wanted. I got too comfortable and he saw how messy I am.