Mason narrates.
I stand waiting for several minutes for her to open the door to her room, however, only silence can be felt.
I walk to the second floor looking for her, I don't think she left that same night, she told me she was leaving tomorrow, I don't understand where she went.
I go back upstairs since I don't even see Simba, she wouldn't leave without letting me say goodbye to our little dog, I don't think she would do that. I knock again on her door and nothing, no answer. Impatience gets the better of me and I open the door. To my surprise it was not locked, I enter the room and see everything empty, the closet, the bed untouched, the bedside tables with nothing. I go into the bathroom and realize that he is gone.
I sit on the side of the bed she used to occupy, an envelope resting on the bed catches my attention. I pick it up and it has my name on it.
Dear Mason:
I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye, but I'm sure it would have hurt us both more to have said goodbye. Fate didn't want us together and that's because your life was already attached to it, I was just an obstacle in your happiness.
Don't call me, because I won't answer your calls, about Simba your mother, Sarah and Ethan will receive everything so you can see how he is.
I need to get away, I hope you understand my position, it hurts me to see you, it hurts me to see that we could have been happy and that it will not be realized. That the time of the trip will never come back.
I will not be able to see you for a long time, maybe when we sign the divorce I will not be completely recovered, many things can happen that we do not know. I only ask you to let me forget you, I don't want to live buried in the pain of a love that could have been and will not be.
I want to start again, that's why I am going to another place, where nobody knows me and where I don't have your memory living next to me.
I authorize you to sell the house, the company or whatever you want, as I told you the material is not important to me. I can start from nothing and look for a job, I don't want you to worry about me and my way of living. I have money saved and that is enough to live on for a while. Also, I have my college degree completed which helps me to look for a job offer.
I leave you a card of the lawyer that you will have to communicate with about legal matters, she will be in charge of getting everything to me and my answers.
I will not have the same number, because if I keep your contact saved, I know I will talk to you or call you. That is not right. She has your family and sincerely I am glad to hear you are going to be a father. Maybe it wasn't the best way to find out, but there's no use crying over spilled milk.
I will always carry you in my heart, Simba will be that beautiful memory of you in my life.
It's too much to tell you that I fell in love with you and that's why I'm moving away, that's why I need to take distance from everything we lived to be able to be reborn and leave behind the feelings I started to feel for you.
I hope you can be very happy; I sincerely wish you the best in your life.
Best wishes with love Paige.
I finish reading and I crumple the page because of the frustration I feel at losing everything I was able to live by her side. Harming her was never in my plans, on the contrary, she is not the only one who is suffering, I am too.
I can't be selfish to ask her to stay, that would only hurt us both more. She is right, the best thing she can do is walk away until this doesn't hurt, I doubt it will ever happen to me. Maybe living with Peyton will rekindle the love I felt for her, maybe not. I won't know that until it happens.
My cell phone brings me out of my thoughts, again it's Peyton with a call, I let it ring and lie down on her side of the bed, which still smells of her. I breathe in her scent and so I fall asleep with a smile on my face. I dream of the moments experienced on the trip that will always be in my mind. They are moments I will never forget.
My cell phone again pulls me out of the beautiful dream I was having, I don't want to look because I'm sure it's Peyton. I answer and of course it's her.
"Love, you didn't answer me last night," she says, sounding like an upset little girl.
“I'm sorry, I fell asleep. I just woke up," I say, sitting on the bed.
“I'm sorry, I wanted to know if you're going to come and see me," she says with a sad voice.
“I don't think I can come today. I need to arrange some divorce paperwork. There's only one month left a month where I have to be at home more than with you to avoid arousing suspicion of your existence and not lose everything," I explain, sighing.
“You'll be with her every day," she says with a broken voice.
“Darling, I won't be with anyone. She left the house; it was an agreement we made. She went on a trip for the remaining time of our marriage, to make everything easier," I explain, scratching the back of my neck.
“I understand, love. Thank you for giving me my place by your side. One month is nothing. We can talk every day through video calls. That's how we'll see each other," she says excitedly.
“Of course, we'll see each other through video calls every day. Now, I have to hang up. I need to go see a lawyer and figure out what documents I need to prepare in advance," I explain, feeling rushed.
“Sure, love. I won't take up any more of your time. We love you," she says, smiling.
“I love you too," I say out of habit.
I end the call and lie back down on the bed. I inhale her scent and close my eyes. I don't want to get up or move from here. In fact, I don't want to go through with the divorce proceedings. I want to stay here and immerse myself in her delicious scent, so I don't forget her.
I fall asleep again, surrounded by her scent, and my phone interrupts my dreams where I'm by her side. Irritated, I answer the call.
“Mason," I say sternly.
"Wow, you're in a great mood, buddy," Ethan says.
"I'm not in the mood. What's going on?” I ask, touching my forehead.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing. I heard Paige is leaving," he says as if she hasn't left yet.
"She's already gone," I say with a sad voice.
"No, not yet. She's at my place. Sarah will take her to the airport in an hour," he says, smiling.
"I'm heading over there," I say, ending the call.
That's why he called me, to give me the chance to see her one more time, just one more time. All I need is to hold her and feel her warmth. That alone would make me happy.