Goodbyes and new beginnings

The decision had been made, but the reality of it still felt surreal to Rosalie. The following days moved like a blur, filled with the practicalities of preparing to leave. She had reached out to Mr. Montgomery, letting him know that she was ready to move forward with selling the farm. He'd been kind, even compassionate, and surprisingly respectful of her hesitation. It didn't feel like the mercenary transaction she had feared, and for that, Rosalie was grateful.

But the weight of her decision settled over her like a mist, clinging to her every step as she moved through the days leading up to her departure. There were so many small goodbyes to say, and each one chipped away at her resolve, leaving her more raw and vulnerable than she had expected.

It was late in the afternoon, and Rosalie found herself standing in the doorway of the barn, watching as Will brushed down one of the horses. He worked with his usual calm, but there was a heaviness in his movements that mirrored her own. The easy rhythm of their shared chores was coming to an end, and neither of them seemed ready to face it.

"Got room for one more?" she asked, stepping inside.

Will glanced over his shoulder, his eyes softening as he saw her. "Always."

Rosalie joined him, grabbing a brush and moving to the other side of the horse. They worked in silence for a few minutes, the familiar sounds of the barn around them, the steady breathing of the animals a soothing backdrop. But the quiet between them wasn't the comfortable one it had always been. It was filled with unspoken words, thoughts that neither of them seemed ready to confront.

Finally, Will broke the silence. "You sure about all this?"

Rosalie nodded, though the ache in her chest made her doubt for a moment. "Yeah. It's time. I've held on for so long, but I know it's not where I'm meant to be anymore."

Will's movements slowed, his eyes focused on the horse's coat. "I get it. I really do. But that doesn't mean it's easy to watch you leave."

Rosalie swallowed the lump in her throat. "I don't want to leave you behind, Will. You've been such a big part of my life—this place, everything. I wouldn't have made it through this without you."

He stopped brushing and turned to face her, his expression serious, though his eyes were full of the affection that had always been there, even if neither of them had ever said it aloud. "I'm always going to be here for you, Rosie. Wherever you go, whatever you decide to do. But it's hard to imagine this place without you."

Rosalie felt her heart tighten. She had known this moment was coming, but that didn't make it any easier. Will had been her constant, her steady hand in the storm. And now, she was walking away from the life they had shared, even if they had never officially acknowledged it.

"I wish things were different," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sounds of the barn. "I wish I could stay, but I just… I can't."

Will's jaw tightened, and for a moment, Rosalie thought he might argue with her. But instead, he nodded, his face softening into a sad smile. "I know. You have to do what's right for you."

They stood in the barn for a long moment, the unspoken words hanging between them like the setting sun casting long shadows across the dusty floor. Rosalie had always imagined that if she ever left the farm, it would be in some grand, dramatic way. But this was quieter, more bittersweet than she had expected. There were no fireworks, no big declarations—just the slow, inevitable end of something precious.

"I'm going to miss you," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion.

Will reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "I'm going to miss you too, Rosie. More than you know."

For a moment, Rosalie wanted to throw herself into his arms, to stay in the warmth of his embrace and pretend that they could continue living this quiet, shared life forever. But she knew it wasn't fair to either of them. She had made her choice, and it wasn't the farm—or the life that came with it.

Instead, she stepped back, blinking away the tears that had begun to blur her vision. "I should get back. There's still so much to do before I leave."

Will nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

"I will. And you too. Promise me you'll take care of this place," she said, her voice cracking just a little. "It means so much to me, and I need to know it'll be in good hands."

"I promise," Will said softly. "It'll be here if you ever want to come back."

Rosalie managed a small smile, even as her heart ached at the finality of it all. She turned and walked out of the barn, leaving behind the life she had always known.

The next few days passed in a blur of packing and paperwork, final meetings with Mr. Montgomery, and quiet moments with her father. Each goodbye felt like peeling away a piece of her soul, but it also brought a strange sense of closure.

On the morning of her departure, Rosalie stood in front of the house one last time, her bags packed in the car, ready to leave behind the only home she had ever known. Her father stood beside her, silent but supportive, his presence grounding her as it always had.

"I'll miss this place," she said quietly, her voice thick with emotion.

Her father smiled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "It'll always be a part of you, Rosie. And you'll always have a place here, no matter where you go."

Rosalie nodded, leaning into his embrace for a moment longer before finally pulling away. She climbed into her car, her heart heavy but resolute.

As she drove away from Emerald Ridge, the farm shrinking in her rearview mirror, Rosalie allowed herself one last glance back. The fields stretched out beneath the morning sun, the barn standing tall against the sky. It was a part of her, and it always would be. But now, her path led somewhere else.

The road ahead was uncertain, but Rosalie felt a flicker of excitement in the unknown. This was her choice, her future. And for the first time in a long while, she was ready to embrace it.