AS DAYS FAREWELL.

I stared at Kate as she was telling me about her emotional support group that she'd joined. I could hear her but I wasn't listening to what she was saying. Flashing images of Peter chasing after me last night displayed in front of me. Like a slide show, It was almost....

"Avery?" I got startled as Kate snapped me out of my thoughts, "Would you like to help me with grocery shopping?" she asked. I nodded pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Are you alright?" she asked me, "I'm fine mom." I smiled at her. I don't want to make her worry about me especially now. "Let's go." I said.

We drove to the grocery store that was just a few blocks away. Stan lets mom use the car these days and he barely leaves the house. Maybe he signed up for working at home or something.

We arrived at the store and head inside, the aisles were all crowded. Luckily, we didn't that much on our list. "Okay, you can go grab the vegetables and I'll handle the dairy." She told me.

I made my way to the veggies' aisle and started filling the basket with celery, spinach, broccoli, carrots. I eat the right amount of this stuff except for broccoli and celery, ick! As I was scanning the aisle for more vegetables my phone buzzed so I put the basket on one of the shelves. As I reached out for my phone in my pocket the basket fell, I sighed and kept on checking my phone.

It was a text from Bethel. She wants me to meet her in an hour. What now? I sighed. "Is this yours?" I heard someone ask as I was reading Beth's text. I looked up, it was one of the stores' workers.

"Uh, yeah sorry. I was gonna pick it up." I smiled nervously. "It's okay. It's part of the job." He turned around showing me the "Can I help you!" at the back of his shirt. He turned back and smiled, "See."

"Yeah. But this one's on me." I picked up the basket and went looking for Kate.

I finally found her and she was talking to a woman. I didn't seem to know this particular woman so I guessed she must be from the emotional group. I slowly approached them and Kate saw me.

"Um, this is my daughter Avery." She smiled at the woman and I looked at her and smiled too. "Avery, this is Donna. She's from the support group I've been telling you about." "Avery, Donna. Donna, Avery." She introduced.

The woman put a hand out for me to shake and we shook on it. She had a warm smile and she was much older than Kate. I believe she was in her mid 50s and Kate was mid 30s.

She had a mixture of grey and brown hair. She was the same height as me and had glowing green eyes. She was beautiful.

"I would love it if you and your mother would come by some time dear." She said with such warmth. "She has been quite a help with my mental health since I met her at the group." She told me.

"We'd love to Miss Donna." I smiled, and she chuckled "Oh, dear you can call me Mrs. Kirby." "Thank you, Mrs. Kirby." I smiled at her. "You know, I've been so lonely ever since my son left." She said.

"Donna's husband died from a heart attack last summer." Kate told me. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Kirby." I said, "Oh, it's okay dearie. I had always felt like he was right there when I'm with my son." S he said.

"Where's your son Mrs. Kirby?" I asked. "He went to some basketball retreat camp with his friends since the beginning of summer. I don't know when he'll come back." She told me.

"Well I'm sure he'll be back soon." I said. "You should meet him Avery dear. My sweet little boy." She said, I chuckled "Um, I'll be delighted to."

"Alright, Donna. We gotta go." Kate said and Donna frowned. She must've really been lonely. Her 'sweet little boy' shouldn't have left her like this. "See you at the group Donna." Kate waved goodbye and so did I.

I smiled when I remembered the encounter at the store. It was nice meeting Donna. And it has been way too long since I went to the shelter. I hope Abuela is doing alright.

Since I was leaving town then I had to stop volunteering at the shelter by this summer to give them time to look for a replacement. But I can still go visit her. I think I'll swing by tomorrow.

"Oh snap!" I thought. I was supposed to meet Bethel in an hour but I forgot and now it's like two hours past our meeting. She's not gonna be happy about this.

My phone rang just as I was thinking and I hoped it wasn't Beth. I grabbed it and unfortunately it was her, "Hey, bestie!" I picked up. "Avery, where are you?" she asked me not sounding mad at all but worried.

"Beth is something wrong?" I asked, "Just meet me at Ronnie's. And hurry." She hung up. Something must be wrong because she would've been when I didn't show up.

I hurried downstairs and told my mom that I was going to meet Bethel at Ronnie's and sprint out the house. Ronnie's wasn't that far so I could probably make it in fifteen if I hurry.

I arrived at Ronnie's but no sign of Bethel. I wondered where she was. I went to the back and I found her sitting at the bench across the street. I waved at her and smiled and she signalled me to go over there.

I crossed the street to where she was, "I made it!" I said sitting down and catching my breath. "I'm waiting for Mick. He'll be here soon." She said. "Beth, what's wrong?" I asked. "We're going to the airport." She said. I paused.

"To say goodbye to Peter." She looked at me and grabbed my hand. "I called you here to give you a choice to come with...." She paused, "Or without."

"Why didn't you just ask me over the phone?" I asked. "Because it's harder for you to refuse in person." She said. I withdrew my hand from hers, "Does it matter. You'd already made a decision for me Beth." I said.

"You have to do it or regret it the rest of your life." She said, "Goodbyes aren't easy but so worth it. They give you closure." She stared at me and I only glared at her until finally I closed my eyes and tears rolled down my cheeks.

Beth pulled me into a hug, slowly patting my back. "How many times do I need to say goodbye?" I sniffled, "As many times as you need." She told me. We stayed in that manner until Mick arrived with a truck.

He said he borrowed from his friend so that we could go to the airport. The ride was quiet, still, anxious. I stared outside the window and thought of nothing in spite everything.

The car finally came to a halt and I took deep breaths. We got off the truck and head inside the airport. The crowds made me more anxious but Bethel held my hand and I felt better.

We searched for Peter but with no luck. "What time is it?" Beth asked Mick. "4:30." He replied after checking. "He couldn't have boarded yet." She said, "Come on!" She told us.

We stopped at the arrival/departures area. There were escalators on both sides and people were going up and coming down gradually. We all searched for him in the busy crowd.

"There!" Mick yelled, "PETER!" Beth yelled and I gasped quietly. I let go of Beth's arm and rolled my hand into a fist. Peter turned as he was almost at the top floor. He saw us and he waved then he went to the escalator for arrivals so he can come down.

We all watched him as he came down and he smiled at us. We had a group hug, "Aw! Thank you guys." He said and we broke off from each other. "Good luck man." Mick said and Peter nodded.

"Beth." He said and they hugged, "When will I see you again?" she asked him. "When you least expect it, I'll be there." He told her and they broke off. He looked at me and even though he was smiling, his eyes said otherwise.

I quickly hugged him to prevent any of us from having to say anything. "Aww!" Beth exclaimed quietly but it was still audible. "I'll miss you too Avery." He whispered and I let go.

We all hugged one last time before letting him go or else he would never leave. We watched him as he walked to the arrivals escalator. He began going up the escalator slowly approaching the top.

"PETER!" I yelled while running towards him. I jumped on an escalator stair and ran through the rest of the stairs to the top. Peter stared at me in confusion, "Avery."

"I never got to say goodbye." My voice trembled through the words and before he could say another word, I kissed him and he kissed back.

We both pulled away with simultaneous heavy breathing. "Goodbye!" I said and he nodded, "Goodbye, Avery." I quickly ran down the escalator and Beth received me with squeals.

"What was that?" she smiled, "Goodbye." I said smiling. I was relieved that I finally let go.

Bethel wouldn't stop bugging me about what happened at the airport the entire way home. I mean she was there and she saw everything, the whole thing in 3D even.

"Beth, what do you want from me?" I asked her as I got off Mick's truck. She peered through the truck window and smiled at me. "Just tell me what happened?" "You saw what happened." I replied.

"Fine." She frowned, "So, what does this mean for you guys?" she asked me. "Nothing. It was just goodbye. Now everyone can live their lives." I replied. "What! I'm not buying that." She said, "Of course you're not." I mumbled. "What was that?" she asked, "Goodnight Beth." I smiled. "I'm coming back tomorrow." She said while Mick pulled out the drive way.

"Goodnight!" She yelled as the truck drove off. I chuckled and went inside.

The days flew by like they were nothing. A month had gone by just like that. Only two months left before we're all outta each other's lives. Won't be long till I can't see Bethel again. I am going to miss her. Honestly I don't know how I'm gonna get by college without her.

I turned slowly as I was sleeping on my bed. 3a.m. I stared at the screen of my phone and I smiled as I watched a photo of Beth and I as my screensaver. I sat up and sighed heavily before I went to the bathroom.

I turned on the water on the sink and washed my face. I took a good look at myself in the mirror and sighed. Just then a memory of that devastating night shocked me and I fell on the floor.

I began sobbing softly as I slowly slid down and put my face on the cold floor. After a while I could see the light coming from outside. It was morning. I slowly stood up.

Turned on the shower then I sniffled a couple of times before getting in. I didn't bother to undress, I just got in and sat on the floor. I buried my face in my knees and began crying.

I couldn't hear the sound of myself crying over the trickling shower water. I thought I was over this. I thought that if I replaced the bad memories with good ones it'd get better.

When I finally stopped being guarded I thought I was healed. Why do I keep remembering these horrible events? I never actually walked through my grief. I buried it and masquerade it with this new life I had.

I didn't allow him to help me instead I told him to just forget about it. Never mind I'm fine God. I don't have to talk about this, I'm alright. I didn't say what I thought of the situation.

I was a kid when it happened so I didn't really think it through like how I do now. When you're young your mind is so simple and you can get distracted just like that.

As I was sobbing in the shower I could feel something in my chest and throat. It was new. Bitterness, anger, grief, sadness, sympathy. The other four were emotions I knew very well but bitterness scared me.