Chapter 10: The Last Goodbye
1371 Words
After Ethan spoke those words, silence settled between us.
The courtyard was slowly emptying as students celebrated their graduation with laughter and photographs. Teachers moved between groups offering congratulations while parents proudly hugged their children.
Yet in that moment it felt as if the entire world had become quiet.
Ethan stood only a few steps away from me.
His expression looked thoughtful, almost uncertain, which was something I had rarely seen on his face before. In the past he always appeared confident and composed, as if nothing around him could disturb his calm.
Now he seemed different.
Or perhaps I was the one who had changed.
"You really are leaving for North Valley," he repeated slowly.
I nodded.
"Yes."
My voice sounded steady and calm.
For several seconds he studied my face carefully.
It felt as though he was searching for something he could not find.
"You used to talk about Westbridge all the time," he said.
The statement carried a faint hint of confusion.
Of course he remembered.
For years I had mentioned Westbridge University whenever the topic of the future came up. I always spoke about it with excitement because he once said it was his dream university.
Back then I believed that if I shared his dreams then perhaps he would eventually notice me.
The memory made me feel both embarrassed and amused.
"I changed my mind," I replied simply.
Ethan frowned slightly.
People like him were used to understanding the world around them clearly. When something unexpected happened, it made them uncomfortable.
"And you decided that suddenly?" he asked.
His tone was calm, yet there was a subtle tension beneath his words.
I met his gaze without hesitation.
"Yes."
The short answer seemed to frustrate him slightly.
He crossed his arms loosely while continuing to observe me.
"I thought you wanted to stay close to home."
Another statement from the past.
I almost smiled.
In reality I had only said that because Westbridge University was nearby.
Everything always returned to him.
But those days were over.
"I changed my plans," I repeated.
Ethan looked at me for a long moment.
The sunlight reflected faintly in his dark eyes while he tried to read my expression.
"Aria," he said slowly.
His voice carried a hint of seriousness now.
"Did something happen?"
The question sounded genuine.
For a brief moment I wondered what he would think if I told him the truth.
Would he believe me if I said that in another life he poisoned me after I gave birth to his child?
Would he laugh at such a story?
Or would he simply dismiss it as nonsense?
Either way the truth would change nothing.
So I answered calmly.
"No."
Ethan seemed unsatisfied with that response.
His gaze drifted slightly before returning to my face again.
"You have been avoiding me."
The accusation was quiet but clear.
In the past hearing those words would have caused panic in my heart. I would immediately start explaining myself because the idea of Ethan feeling upset with me once terrified me.
Now the feeling was completely different.
"I have not been avoiding you," I said.
"Then why have you been acting like this?"
His question sounded more direct this time.
Perhaps he simply could not understand why the girl who once chased him everywhere now behaved as if he were just another classmate.
I thought for a moment before answering.
"Because I realized something."
His expression sharpened slightly.
"What did you realize?"
I looked at him calmly.
"That I spent too much time worrying about things that were not important."
The words were honest.
Ethan stared at me quietly.
It was clear that my answer did not match his expectations.
"What things?" he asked.
I held his gaze for a moment before replying.
"You."
The single word hung in the air between us.
For a brief moment Ethan seemed genuinely stunned.
He probably never imagined that I would speak so directly.
In my previous life I never would have dared to say something like that.
But now there was no reason to hide the truth.
"I spent years chasing you," I continued calmly. "It was exhausting."
The statement was simple.
Yet its meaning carried the weight of many painful memories.
Ethan's expression shifted slightly.
He opened his mouth as if preparing to respond, but no words came out immediately.
That reaction alone told me everything I needed to know.
In the past he never took my feelings seriously because I always presented them quietly and carefully.
Now that I spoke plainly, he did not know how to react.
"I did not ask you to chase me," he finally said.
His tone sounded defensive.
Of course he would say that.
And technically he was right.
He never asked for my affection.
But that truth did not erase the pain I experienced because of it.
"I know," I replied.
The calmness in my voice seemed to confuse him again.
"If you know, then why are you suddenly acting like this?"
I looked at the sky for a brief moment before answering.
"Because I finally understood that I deserve something better."
Ethan remained silent.
The afternoon sunlight stretched across the courtyard while the last few groups of students slowly left the school grounds.
Somewhere in the distance laughter echoed faintly.
But here, between the two of us, the atmosphere felt unusually serious.
Ethan lowered his arms and took a small step closer.
His expression softened slightly.
"You used to like me very much," he said.
The words sounded almost questioning.
As if he could not accept that those feelings had disappeared so quickly.
I met his gaze steadily.
"Yes."
The honesty surprised him again.
"And now?" he asked.
The question lingered between us.
I thought about it carefully.
Did I still like Ethan Blackwood?
Perhaps a small fragment of that feeling still existed somewhere deep in my memory. After all I had loved him for many years in my previous life.
But love built on illusion could not survive forever.
"I do not feel the same anymore," I answered.
Ethan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That is hard to believe."
I almost laughed.
Why was it difficult for him to accept?
People changed all the time.
But perhaps he was simply not used to seeing that change directed toward him.
"Believe whatever you want," I said calmly.
The conversation had already lasted longer than I expected.
And there was nothing else that needed to be said.
I adjusted the strap of my bag and prepared to leave.
Before I could take a step, Ethan spoke again.
"Aria."
I paused but did not turn immediately.
"What?"
His voice sounded quieter now.
"Are you really not going to Westbridge?"
For some reason he repeated the question again.
Perhaps he still hoped I would change my mind.
I turned to face him once more.
"No."
The answer was firm.
Ethan looked at me for several seconds.
Then he nodded slowly.
"I see."
His tone was neutral, yet something in his expression suggested that he was still thinking deeply about the situation.
But those thoughts were no longer my concern.
The wind moved gently across the courtyard while carrying the faint scent of summer.
I realized that this moment felt strangely symbolic.
For years Ethan Blackwood had been the center of my world.
Every decision I made revolved around him.
Now I was standing in front of him for the last time as a high school student.
And for the first time in my life, I felt completely free.
"I should go," I said.
Ethan did not stop me.
He simply watched as I turned and began walking toward the school gate.
With every step the distance between us grew larger.
I did not look back.
The sunlight stretched across the road outside the school while students continued celebrating their graduation nearby.
Laughter filled the air again.
But inside my heart a quiet chapter was finally closing.
The girl who once followed Ethan Blackwood everywhere had disappeared.
And as I walked away from the school building, I knew that I was also walking away from the past that once destroyed my life.
This time my future would belong only to me.
- Writer
