Leaving the City

Evangeline P.O.V.

Today was the day. I was finally getting the fresh start I had been hoping for.

No more stress, worry, or anxiety about my past.

The last box went into my car. Everything was packed out of my small studio apartment.

I wiped the sweat off my brow as my friend Janet handed me a water bottle.

”Thanks.” I said to her with a smile. She would be the only person I would truly miss out of this place.

”You know you have to come back and visit, I don’t know how long I”ll survive without you for.” Janet’s face had been permanently frowned the entire moving day.

Janet and I had been friends for a little over two years now. She had been with me through the toughest moments while living in this city. I never imagined I would have ever found someone like her, or would be leaving her behind ever.

“You can always come visit me and you know that. I’m not sure I’ll be able to return here once I cross the city line.” I felt horrible leaving her, but she refused to come with me since she had already completed two years of her schooling here.

“You have to forgive yourself for what happened Eve, nothing that happened was your fault and you know it. Your parents would be proud of you if they were still here. Don’t be so hard on yourself.” Janet smiled and placed her hand on my shoulder.

I turned back to my car. My parents were still a soft subject and as bad as I felt for ignoring what she said, I wanted today to feel like I was starting over and not drowning in my past.

Don’t get me wrong, I will never forget my parents. My mother was a blessing on Earth, sweetest soul you would ever meet. My dad was kind hearted, an old soul who loved working on cars. But I will never forgive myself for that one day. The one day that changed my life forever. Turned my whole world inside out and upside down on its head.

I shook my head and closed the trunk. The trunk closed with a loud thud and I was one step closer to my escape.

”Would you let me treat you to one last brunch at the diner Eve? Just like old times? We can talk about your new plans, I promise nothing old!” Janet beamed at me and gave the saddest eyes as if I were to suddenly disappear and never return.

But was that not what I was doing? I didn’t want to return, but she always knew she could come to me. Didn’t she?

“Of course Jan, but you’re paying!” I smirked at her as she rolled her eyes.

“Shouldn’t you be paying for me as an ‘I’m sorry I’m ditching you gift?”

”Hey! I’m not ditching you, Maybury just so happens to be really far and the perfect place for me. You know I’ll call you and tell you all the hot gossip, and all about the hot boys!” I nudged her and wiggled my eyebrows at her.

She laughed as we kept walking towards the diner. The diner had been the home of many long nights shared between us. Crying, laughing, crying some more, and even serious talks about this move.

Janet had been there since day one, and now she was here for the last day. I truly wish she would’ve accepted my offer for her to come with me. It would make the move less stressful, but I knew what she had going here and I was already feeling selfish for doing this to her.

We arrived at the diner and sat at our usual table in the corner by the window. You could see the city from this window, it was beautiful, but the past it held was dark and dangerous.

“Are you okay?” Janet asked me, looking for answers in my blank stare.

“Yeah of course, I was just reminiscing our time here.” I gave her a weak smile. I had already cried enough in these past few months and I wanted to keep it at bay for today.

“Nothing about the past remember? How long is your drive to Brookeville?”

“Right. A little over 6 hours. Nothing too crazy luckily.”

Our regular server, Mary, came by and gave us our drinks. She already knew our order by heart, definitely an indicator that we had been here too many times to count.

I fiddled with the straw cover while Janet and I talked about my move. I had sold a bunch of stuff since I wouldn’t be living in an apartment but a dorm room. It was a cheaper option for me, and as much as I hated the idea, I knew I didn’t have much of a choice.

“Do you know what you want to study yet? Are you going to continue what you started here?”

“I think that would be best. My credits will transfer over luckily, so I should be able to keep up unless they don’t have my major.”

I was currently studying recreation management. I loved being outdoors, and even though I lived in the city, I always took the time to travel around to go hiking or camping with my parents. But since they passed, I hadn’t been out to the trails in awhile.

“Who are you going to be rooming with? Have they told you?”

Janet knew I would be staying in the dorms, and she knew how I felt about it. She tried telling me it would be a great opportunity to meet someone but I really didn’t want to meet anyone. I just wanted a new start, somewhere without haunted memories. Somewhere I could just be by myself and finish my degree.

“No, I think I’ll find out once I get there. I’ve heard they have nice dorms though so hopefully I can just keep to my side and whoever it is can keep to theirs.”

Mary finally brought over our food and refills. Janet always got the grilled cheese and I somehow managed to always stick with the BLT, something I will definitely miss in Brookeville.

“Remember to be optimistic, meeting someone new will be great for you and you know it. Maybe they will love being outdoors as much as you do, or did, sorry.” Janet frowned and took a bite of her grilled cheese.

“It’s fine Jan. I’ll try my best to do what I can. But if she sucks as a roommate then I’m not so sure.” I gave a soft laugh, silently hoping that whoever I was paired with didn’t suck, only really trying to make Janet feel better.

Janet gave a partial laugh. The rest of our meal was silent as we finished up and paid. We started walking back down the street towards the car.

We finally reached my car and I could feel my eyes starting to burn. I really didn’t know how I could say goodbye to Janet. I knew I couldn’t come back, but if I ever did I knew it would only be for her.

“Well Eve, I’ll miss you like nobody’s business. Don’t you forget about me and we have to call at least once a week. I need updates on all of these hot boys you mentioned!” Janet’s eyes started to well up with tears.

“This isn’t goodbye Jan, it’s just a see you later. You can always come visit, whenever you want. You’re like a sister to me you know that.” My own tears started to fall as I embraced Janet into a big hug.

“Alright Evangeline, you go out there and you show them who’s boss. Go show them who Evangeline is and who she is meant to be. I love you, and call me when you get there.” Janet smiled and gave me one last hug.

“I love you too Jan. Never forget about me.” I gave Janet a tearful smile and climbed into the driver seat of the car.

It started up with a kick and I slowly pulled off the curb while waving to Janet. This was going to be a long 6 hour drive.

I turned the radio up, put the directions into my phone, and said one last hopefully prayer that I was making the right decision to leave this life behind.

Brookeville here I come.