Jess’s Reviews > Releasing 10 > Status Update

"I’ll always love you, Hugh Biggs," Liz said when she rounded the table and stopped in front of me. Inhaling a quivering breath, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to my cheek before whispering, "No matter what."
And then she was gone.

A wave of panic washed over me when I watched her stand up and retrieve her books and schoolbag.
I wanted to shout don't go, but it wouldn't have helped either one of us.

The sadness in her eyes was killing me, and I had to fight every instinct inside of me to not pull her into my arms. Because it felt like I had been programmed to protect this girl. The only problem was, I needed protection from her. Because no one could hurt me like Liz could.

"It's new," I finally managed to say when I steadied myself. "I, ah.. " Roughly clearing my throat, I wiped my eyes with my sleeve and forced myself to look at her. "Her name is Katie."
When her blue eyes met mine, I felt the pull. The undeniable bond that linked my soul to hers. The one that no amount of time or distance seemed to sever. "Is she good to you?"
Sniffling, I nodded. "Yeah, she's really good to me."

My ears were ringing.
My heart was gunning in my chest.
My heart was insisting I had taken a wrong turn in life and demanding that I turn back.

"What about you?" I could barely see her face through my tears. "How am I supposed to let you go?"

I’m SOBBING

"Liz..”
"And I want you to move on from me,” she said, choking on the words like they physically pained her. "I don't want you to feel guilty about it or think you're doing something wrong, because you aren't. Because you are too amazing of a person to spend your life stuck on a fuckup like me.”

"I’ll always protect you. I swiped a tear from my cheek. "No matter what"
Sniffling, she squeezed my hand again. "I want you to have the best life imaginable. Nobody deserves it more than you."

"We can try" I heard myself offer, feeling panicked at the thought of this being it.
Please, God, don't let this be it. "Liz, it'll be okay."

"I'll be okay," I strangled out, reaching over and snatching one of her hands up.
"We can still be friends."
"No, Hugh, we can't," she replied sadly, entwining her fingers with mine. "You can't be friends with the person you're in love with." Tears trickled down her cheeks. "And I'm always going to be in love with you, Hugh."