Chapter 99: Leaving

-Molly-

My tear-blurred eyes could barely make out Scott's car as he and Becca left the driveway. I bit the palm of my hand to stem the sobs as I wiped tears away as fast as they could fall.
I didn’t have time to stand here and cry, even though my eyes refused to stop long enough to see properly.
I stubbed my toe on my dresser and bumped my head on the closet door before I finally managed to get to my bag. Unzipping the top, I pulled out the letter I had written up last night for everyone.
My tears dropped onto the envelope, smearing one of the letters on the front where I had addressed it. In my head, I went over what I had written in the letter to make sure it was exactly how I wanted it to be.

-Mom,
I know you won't understand why I did this, and I'm sorry. Please know that I had to. It's time I learned to stand on my own two feet and take care of my own affairs. I'm going to be fine. I'm smart, and I'm tough, and I'll be able to handle whatever life brings my way. I love you all. Please tell Scott thank you for giving me the push I needed to be true to myself. I love you all.
Molly
P.S. Please take care of Becca. -

I wiped the tears off the envelope and slipped it into my pocket. Slowly, I made my way down the stairs to the front door, praying I didn’t encounter anyone on the way. Then again, if I did, I wouldn’t have been able to see them beyond my tears.
Setting the letter on the table by the front door, I walked out, not daring to look back for fear I would change my mind.

-Airport-

I stood at the departure gate, staring at the long line of people waiting to board the plane. Tabitha and Eric had already gotten on board since they were traveling first class. The original plan was to get me a ticket sitting close to them. But the plane was booked up, so we had to grab
I didn't care if I would be squished between people on the long 6-hour flight, as long as it meant that I was on my way to somewhere safe.
The line kept moving, but suddenly my feet refused to go forward. Something was stopping me, something important that I had to do before I could leave. I had already said my goodbyes to my mother and Scott as best I could. But there was one other person to that I hadn’t said a proper goodbye, and I couldn’t leave it hanging the way I did.
Stepping away from the line, I grabbed my phone and dialed Becca’s number before I could chicken out.
The phone had barely started ringing when Becca’s voice came over the earpiece.
“Molly?!” Becca yelled, sounding panicked. "Molly! Where the hell are you?"
I knew she would be upset, but I wasn't ready for the sound in my ear.
"Yes, it's me, Becca," I choked, trying to swallow the lump in my throat as my eyes began to tear up again.
I heard my mother’s voice come through the phone, and the knife in my heart twisted. "Is that Molly? Where is she?"
"Tell her to come home now!" Scott… I closed my eyes and tried to block out the sound of his beautiful voice demanding me to obey him.
I pulled the phone away from my ear to try and pretend like they weren’t slowly killing me. I sobbed for a moment as I slowly knelt when my legs wouldn’t hold me anymore.
"I won't tell you where I am because you will come and get me. I need to prove to everyone I'm not just a useless, spoiled brat. I can do something other than spend my family's money," I insisted, pushing through the sobs and trying to make my voice sound as normal as possible.
"Molly! You don't have to run away to prove that. Please, come home! Please, I need you! We all need you to come home!" Becca pleaded so desperately that I almost gave in. "I-I can't get through this without you."
But I couldn’t let her persuade me. The baby, I reminded myself. This is for my baby.
"Yes, you can. You are stronger than you think. The strongest of us all. You are brave, smart, and strong. You can survive this. I'm so sorry, but I can't go home. This is something that I have to do, and I-"
A voice came over the intercom announcing my flight number and that it was final boarding. If I didn’t go now, I would never go. I would never again grow this amount of courage to leave everyone.
"I have to go, Becca. I promise this is not goodbye. Just a see-you-later, okay? I love you, and I believe in you. I would never do this if it wasn't for someone much more important than even myself. I love you, and please, forgive me... and trust me,” I pleaded with her before my voice broke.
"Molly, no!"
"I love you," I repeated with a croak and hung up the phone.
Despite the rush, I stayed on the ground for a few more minutes to try and compose myself. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t stand... could barely see to get on the plane. But I had to... I had no choice. This was the decision that I made, and I had to see it through, even if it was the hardest thing I had ever done.
A hand appeared in front of my face, and I looked up to see a pair of very kind eyes. A deep chocolate brown attached to an equally kind face.
“Are you all right, my dear?” the man asked in a kind voice with a very affluent accent.
“I-I-I,” my voice refused to work, and all I could do was shake my head.
“Let me help you up, my dear. This floor is filthy, and you are much too beautiful to be on the ground,” the man continued softly.
I allowed him to help me off the ground and hold me up until I could stand on my own. He looked at one of the workers and waved them over to us.
“Are you on this flight as well?” he asked.
I nodded, sobbing.
“Get your ticket out, sweetheart, and I’ll help you get on the plane. We can talk then, okay?” the man encouraged me gently.
Unable to think, I did as he asked and allowed him to help me get through all the stops and onto the plane. He sat me next to him and kept a steady stream of tissues until we were in the air and well on the way.
I watched as the lights of my hometown disappeared into the darkness, and the plane sailed toward what would be my new home. I didn’t know if I had cried my eyes dry or if the numbness had finally settled in. But the tears stopped, and I could speak again, even if it was just a croak.
I turned to the man next to me and flushed in embarrassment. “Thank you for your help. I’m sorry for being a crazy broke-down woman.”
He chuckled, and even his laughter sounded almost highborn. “It’s very much alright, my dear. Obviously, this is very difficult for you. If you’d like to discuss it, I am a very good listener. I am Grayson, Grayson Mathenson. My friends call me Gray. You?”
I took his offered hand, expecting him to shake it, and was shocked as hell when he kissed the back of it.
“I’m Molly Harper,” I replied, blushing some more.
“Absolutely lovely to meet you, Molly. So, tell me, what is bringing you to California. Business, pleasure, or are you running away from someone?” he asked playfully.
I looked out the window again, swearing in my distressed state that I could see Scott’s beautiful face looking back at me.
“Just looking for a fresh start,” I replied, wiping off the window to erase Scott’s face.
It was definitely time for a fresh start.