Episode Nine: The Kind of Goodbye That Heals
985 Words
Audrey didn’t expect Lina to come to her.
Not so soon.
Not so calmly.
But three days after her conversation with Damian, there was a knock on her door, soft, steady, familiar.
Audrey’s heart skipped.
She knew who it was before she even opened it.
When she did, Lina Bailey stood there, a small bag slung over her shoulder, her expression quieter than usual, but not broken.
Just… different.
“Hi,” Lina said.
Audrey swallowed. “Hi.”
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Then Lina gave a small smile. “Can I come in?”
Audrey stepped aside immediately. “Of course.”
The room felt smaller with Lina inside it again.
Not in a bad way.
Just… full of history.
Memories seemed to linger in every corner, late-night talks, shared laughter, whispered secrets.
Now, everything felt heavier.
More real.
Lina sat on the edge of the bed, looking around briefly before resting her hands in her lap.
“I’m leaving tomorrow,” she said.
The words still hit Audrey, even though she already knew.
“So soon?” she asked softly.
Lina nodded. “If I wait any longer, I might not go.”
That made sense.
And somehow, it made everything hurt just a little more.
“I’m proud of you,” Audrey said after a moment.
And she meant it.
Lina smiled faintly. “Thank you.”
Silence followed.
But it wasn’t awkward.
It was… necessary.
“I talked to Damian,” Lina said.
Audrey’s chest tightened slightly. “I know.”
“He told me,” Lina added.
Audrey nodded.
There was no point pretending anymore.
Not with Lina.
Never with Lina.
“I think I knew before either of you did,” Lina said quietly.
Audrey looked up, surprised.
“What do you mean?”
Lina let out a soft breath. “The way he looked at you sometimes. The way you understood each other without saying anything. I noticed it… even if I didn’t fully admit it.”
Audrey’s throat tightened. “Then why,”
“Did I still date him?” Lina finished gently.
Audrey nodded.
Lina gave a small, honest smile. “Because I thought… maybe it was just friendship. And maybe if I gave it a chance, it could grow into something more.”
She paused.
“It did,” she added. “Just not in the way I hoped.”
Guilt washed over Audrey.
“I’m so sorry, Lina,” she said quietly. “I never meant for any of this to happen.”
“I know,” Lina replied immediately.
And she did.
That was what made Lina who she was.
She didn’t hold onto blame when she understood the truth.
“I was hurt,” Lina continued. “I won’t lie about that.”
Audrey nodded, tears forming in her eyes.
“But I also realized something,” Lina said.
“What?” Audrey asked.
“That I don’t want to stay somewhere I feel second,” Lina said simply.
The words were calm.
But powerful.
“And you shouldn’t,” Audrey whispered.
Lina smiled. “Exactly.”
They sat in silence again.
But this time, it felt lighter.
Like something had been released.
“So,” Lina said after a moment, tilting her head slightly. “What happens now?”
Audrey hesitated.
Then told the truth.
“We’re… figuring it out,” she said. “Slowly.”
Lina nodded approvingly. “Good.”
“No rushing,” Audrey added.
“Even better,” Lina said with a small laugh.
Audrey looked at her, something tightening in her chest again.
“I’m going to miss you,” she said.
Lina’s smile softened.
“I’m not disappearing,” she said. “Just… changing locations.”
Audrey laughed quietly. “Still.”
“I’ll miss you too,” Lina admitted.
A moment passed.
Then Lina stood.
Audrey followed.
They faced each other—no tension now, just honesty.
“I’m really okay, Audrey,” Lina said.
Audrey searched her face.
And for the first time,
She believed it.
“Take care of him,” Lina added lightly.
Audrey blinked. “What?”
Lina smirked faintly. “Don’t let him get away with being annoying.”
Audrey laughed through her tears. “I won’t.”
Then Lina pulled her into a hug.
Tight.
Warm.
Real.
Not a goodbye filled with resentment.
But one filled with understanding.
Growth.
And love in a different form.
“Be happy,” Lina whispered.
“You too,” Audrey replied.
When Lina pulled away, she didn’t look back.
Not because she didn’t care.
But because she had already made peace with leaving.
That evening, Audrey found Damian waiting for her outside her hostel.
Like before.
Like always.
Only now,
Everything felt different.
In a good way.
“She came to see me,” Audrey said as she approached.
Damian nodded. “She told me she would.”
“She’s leaving tomorrow,” Audrey added.
“I know,” he said quietly.
They stood there for a moment, both processing it.
“She’s going to be okay,” Audrey said.
Damian nodded. “Yeah.”
Silence.
Then,
“What about you?” he asked.
Audrey looked at him.
“What about me?”
“Are you okay?” he asked.
The question was simple.
But it mattered.
She took a breath.
Then smiled.
“I think I am,” she said.
And for the first time,
It was true.
He stepped a little closer.
Not too much.
Just enough.
“Good,” he said softly.
There was a pause.
A quiet, meaningful one.
Then,
“Can I take you out tomorrow?” he asked.
Her heart skipped.
“A real date,” he added.
Not as friends.
Not as something undefined.
Something intentional.
Audrey smiled.
Warm.
Certain.
“Yes,” she said.
And just like that,
Something new began.
- Writer
