AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Solia, these last couple weeks with you have been amazing. I haven’t smiled or laughed like this in so long. Even though it seems crazy, given the amount of time we’ve known each other, it scares me to admit how I feel about you. I never intended to hide this or hurt you. Part of me figured if I held back, you’d be sick of me soon enough and I could spare myself having to tell you. I’m so sorry.” He pulls away and closes his eyes.
We sit without talking as the sounds of nature surround us. I know he’s waiting for me to say something. My heart aches for Jackson and what he’s been through. Never in a million years did I foresee this conversation. But Jackson has known the entire time that this road would lead to a dead end.
I can’t even begin to understand what he’s going through, but the bricks are stacking. Despite my connection with Jackson, he’s severing the tie that binds us. He’s leaving. There’s no avoiding it.
I push my chair back and walk over to Jackson. He meets me halfway, and I pull him into me, hoping to transfer every ounce of love I have for him. He is a good man, and what happened to him is tragic. The last thing he deserves is added guilt. I can easily rise above that; what Jackson needs is love and support.
“Thank you for telling me. I’m so sorry this happened to you and your friends and that Trinity passed. I understand what you are saying.”
The rigidity of Jackson’s embrace loosens as he hangs his head and his tears soak into the fabric of my shirt. “I’m so sorry,” he whispers in my ear.
Those are the last words I hear before his arms set me free and I’m looking at his back as he walks through the screen door. I’m glued to the deck, my chest empty while he walks away with my heart. I hear the gravel under his tires, and I collapse into the lounge chair, curling into the fetal position.
Poor Jackson. The weight of the world has been on his shoulders since the day I met him.
I lie crying and replay Jackson’s words in my head. The sun moves past high noon and is in the western sky when the tires rumble over the dirt and rocks.
He’s back. He can’t live without me.
I jump from the chair and run to the top of the stairs. Tyler’s truck rounds the corner, and the remaining pieces of my heart crumble.
I watch Mia lean over to Tyler, whisper something in his ear, and kiss his cheek. The truck door slams and Tyler looks at me, sadness in his eyes as he nods in understanding. Through my blurred vision, I see the outline of Mia climbing the stairs toward me. I want to collapse in her arms and rid myself of this pain.
Mia takes hold of me and leads me inside. With a box of tissues on my lap and my head on her shoulder, I share the entire conversation. She sits in silence, running her fingers through my hair, wiping her own tears. I’m so thankful she’s here. I’m not sure how I would’ve handled this without her. A text or video call would never have sufficed.
“Solia, what Jackson’s been through is more than either of us can imagine. I’m glad he told you before you fell in love with him because you are just getting your life started here. I want you to live out your dream here without heartache.” She lowers her head to mine for reassurance, and her expression indicates she knows it’s too late. “You’re already in love, aren’t you?”
I cover my face and lie back on the couch and sob. “I know I just met the guy. It’s ridiculous to think I’m in love with Jackson. It’s absurd, but it’s true. I’ve never felt this way. Every time I see him, I liquefy. He’s everything I didn’t know I was looking for. So yeah, I’m in love with him, and he’s leaving.”
Mia always has something to say, and this is the first time I can remember her looking at me without offering a word. I leave Mia on the couch and go to the bathroom to grab towels for the outdoor shower. Maybe a little fresh air and water will clear my mind.
Walking back through the kitchen, towels in hand, I find Mia kneeling near the refrigerator.
“What are you doing?”
“I was filling a glass with ice water, and a cube fell on the floor. I reached and grabbed this. Did you know you have mail that fell underneath the refrigerator?” She stands, holding two envelopes.
“Let me see those.”
She hands them over and I flash back to the day I went to the post office and threw my mail on the counter. I forgot these were delivered, and somehow they made it under the fridge. I look at both and remember seeing the one from Meriden Elementary, but I don’t recall seeing the one addressed to my parents from Green Breeze Enterprises.
I rip open the envelope from the school to find an invitation to a Midsummer Teacher Meet-Up next week, along with a letter from the principal stating there is an anticipated grade three opening she’d like me to interview for at my convenience. Good thing Mia found these. I stick the invitation on the fridge with a magnet I made as a kid that’s been hanging there for twenty years.I need to get rid of that.
The next letter I open slowly. It is addressed to my parents:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Anderson,
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Nick Ford, CEO of Green Breeze Enterprises. Our company is expanding into the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. As I’m sure you are aware, green energy is the future, and the residents of Meriden, New Hampshire, can join the green energy revolution.
Green Breeze has selected your property, among many others, as an area of interest for the installation of a wind turbine farm. It is our sincere hope that with the help of Meriden town officials, the zoning board, and residents like you, we can put Meriden on the map in the coming year.
I’m sure you’ll have a great deal of questions, which we hope to address at a special town hall meeting at 11 a.m. on July 24. We look forward to educating you and the public regarding the outstanding benefits of wind power and how you can play a role in this sustainable and renewable form of energy.
Sincerely,
Nick Ford
CEO, Green Breeze Enterprises
