Gone

Mike and I sat on the coral towel, holding hands and listening to the waves pounding on the beach.1

Mike looked at me, his blue eyes confused, when I pulled my hand away.2

This was our last day together. He was moving to California in a month. Meanwhile, he would stay at his Gran's house in Chicago.3

So I had to end it. Now. 4

If we stayed like this, waiting, two hearts would break. If I parted us now, only one would crack.5

I was willing to make the sacrifice.6

Mike watched me as I stood up, dusting away the sand clinging to my bare legs.7

Mike just watched as I turned around I was intending to walk away, but Mike whispered quietly, "There's another one."8

I spun around, sand flying around my bare ankles.9

"What?" I choked. 10

"I said, there's another one!" He yelled. He grabbed the towel and threw it at me, then he ran off, into the ocean.11

I caught the towel without thinking about it, tears brimming up in my eyes.12

"OK." I whispered to myself. "OK."13

I walked home, not even bothering to shake the towel out.14

I threw it over my pine-green convertible-a gift from Mike for my sixteenth. The towel landed on the clean seats with a loud thump. I didn't care. I walked up to the house and took out the key from the drain pipe.15

Unlocking the door, I walked into my place. It was a two story house, with a huge backyard and dogs all over the place.16

One of my many dogs, Star, bounded up to me and licked my face.