"What do you mean he's gone?" I stared at my sister's face with a pained expression.

"I mean like he tested out and packed up his dorm room without anyone knowing kind of gone. Talia, Damian is gone," she stated, as she came to sit next to me on the edge of the hospital bed.

What did this all mean? Don't get me wrong, I grasped the concept of Damian packing up and leaving school, but why now and without a word? After all the moments that I had shared with the surly boy with dirty blonde hair and eyes that saw all my secrets, I felt like I was worth more than the simple gesture he offered when he came to the hospital to see me. I felt like we had shared more, which warranted an explanation of some kind.

"No one knows where he's gone? Not even his family?" I asked, desperately hoping that someone, somewhere, had some clue as to where the boy who held pieces of my heart had taken off to.

"Julian and Maria were down at the school this morning screaming at the office staff, demanding to know where their son had gone off to. He didn't leave any kind of word with anyone. I heard from Angie, that Paxton saw him yesterday and he seemed fine, but then that afternoon his room was cleaned out of the essentials. He left most of it behind, only taking his important stuff and clothes. His room at home is in the same situation," Lizbeth stated, before she let out a slight sigh, then continued, "I know how you feel about him, Talia, and I can't say that I understand it at all. But... I am sorry. You deserved some kind of explanation, especially after what happened."

I could feel the anger welling up underneath the surface. It was the same kind of anger that I had felt toward Damian in the beginning, before I saw the small glimpses of the boy underneath the anger and pain. I wanted nothing more than to punch him in his beautiful face for leaving me, even though I had left him already.

In my selfishness, I had pushed him away from me, without giving him the proper explanations for my feelings. I loved Seth, more than mere words could describe, but the girl who loved Seth was Talia Grey; the same Talia Grey that played in a punk band and caught fireflies in the back woods of her Minnesota home. The pieces of Talia that loved Damian Reever, were Wyndham pieces; pieces I was just discovering. Those tiny foreign Wyndham pieces, were slowly attempting to find their place amongst all the larger pieces, desperate to fill the minute voids that had formed over time. Losing Damian like this, only served to stall the formation of the whole and disturb the peace within that I had come to love.

"This is utter bullshit! How dare he act like a coward after everything his family has done," I found myself unable to finish the sentiment. I couldn't finish for fear of what kinds of things would spring forth from my lips, whether or not they would be things that would potentially hurt the ones I loved, or things that would expose exactly how deep I had fallen into everything Damian.

I heard a soft knock at the door and in walked the doctor who had been caring for me during my stay. He checked a few things, made some notes and then left to speak to Killian, who was standing outside of my room, next to Seth. I was more than eager to be released from the sterile environment which had become my bedroom for the last few weeks. 

I was eager to get a move on with my life and to heal, not only from my injuries, but the pain that was slowly forming in the pit of my heart.

Killian had reluctantly agreed to allow me to test out of my senior year at Anthabask. After much discussion and a slightly heated debate, Lizbeth came to my rescue and assisted me in pleading my case to my father. While he wasn't happy with my decision, he did recognize that I was in danger staying in Meeds Hollow.

By agreeing to allow me to leave, he wasn't relinquishing his rights to have me in his life, he was merely allowing me to finally spread my wings and take charge of my future. I would never distance myself from my new family again, they had become so ingrained in who I was as a person, that the mere thought of them disappearing, threatened to destroy what sanity I clutched to.

"Alright, the doctor said you could leave, so how about we trade the awful hospital gown for a pair of mediocre and unstylish sweatpants?" Seth asked, as he made his way into the room to help me get changed.

"Unstylish sweatpants sounds divine, especially if you were about to include a hey, I also brought you a Ramones t-shirt in that statement."

"Sadly, no Ramones, but could I interest you in a NOFX henley?" he said with a chuckle, as his smile illuminated through the already bright room and for a moment, all thoughts of pain left behind by the departure of Damian, seemed major.

"No Ramones, tisk tisk. I guess I could forgive you this one time. You did however promise me chocolate, which I haven't seen yet either, Seth." I sent a small glare in his direction, which caused him to laugh that booming and raspy laugh that tugged on more than just my heartstrings.

"I did promise you chocolate, but you also promised me a wedding, which I haven't seen either," he smirked, as he handed me the pair of fitted grey joggers and black henley t-shirt.

"Touche, my love. I guess after tomorrow we can surely start that discussion."

"So you're seriously going to test out that quick, not even take some time to study or make sure it's what you want?" Lizbeth asked, as she gathered up the rest of the stuff that was littering the hospital room.

"Why wait, I could have tested out at the beginning of the year no questions. I just didn't have a parent's permission, now I do."

I saw Lizbeth gather up my journal, which I was trying to write in to keep from going insane while stuck in bed and a crisp blue envelope fell from in between the pages. Without looking, she just shoved it back in the journal and placed the book in my black duffel bag. I didn't recognize the envelope and didn't remember anyone coming to visit me bearing it, but at that moment in time, I was more concerned with getting away from the massive amounts of jello and ham sandwiches that had become my go to hospital meals. I needed to be away from this constant reminder of what had happened, the constant reminder of my own guilt relating to my role in the events.

The drive back to the Academy was quiet and the sole purpose of us being there was so I could pack up my dorm room contents and then test out the following morning. Seth took my arm in his as he helped me into the elevator and to my room. I didn't really need his assistance with walking, even though I still had bouts of overall body pain from the accident. I allowed him to dote on me, because I knew that it served to ease his mind a tad and right now, we all needed a little piece of mind.

"Ok, so I'll be at your dad's and then we'll be here tomorrow at noon to pick your stuff up. This is it, baby, it's our time," he said as he placed a passionate kiss on my nude colored lips. The feel of his mouth pressed against mine, calmed the impending storm deep within, yet it killed me to know that he was here in town, but staying so far away from me.

After everyone left, I slowly unpacked a few things from my bag, searching for the letter that Lizbeth had stuffed in my journal. When I finally found it, I noticed that it had a small lump in it. I looked at the writing across the front, in choppy block print, it was Damian's handwriting. When had Damian been by my hospital room in order to slip this letter into my possession? It must have been while I was sleeping. The mere thought of missing any contact with him, broke a single solitary piece of my heart off, dangling it from the rest.

I tore it open, the sound of its contents hitting the floor caused me to fumble for the item that had fallen out. My hands searched under my bed, until it came into contact with a ring shaped item. My heart stopped briefly when my hand clamped down around it. I exhaled violently before bringing it out and to my face, the feel of my heart ceasing any beating filled my body when I looked at the item in the palm of my hand.

It was my ring... The ring that Seth had given to me.

It was undamaged, yet it seemed foreign to my eyes. If Damian had my ring it meant one of two things: he had gone back to the accident site and found it, or he took it from the person who stole it. I didn't believe with any part of me, that Damian had the ring the whole time, because I knew for a fact that he was incapable of hurting me in the way that someone had.

I fumbled for the piece of paper that the envelope contained, my eyes filling with tears as I stared at his handwriting. You could sense the nervousness in each individual stroke of Ls or Ps. You could almost taste the fear he must have felt, when he thought up the words that he put down. I could almost feel the love springing forth from each individual word scrolled, yet my heart was as tearful as my eyes were.

Dearest Grey,

I know the last thing you need from me is more words. More words to tear at your heart or cause a cloud of confusion to wash over you. All I've done since we met, is confuse you and for that, I am truly sorry. Never in my life, would I have dreamed that I would fall in love; but none was as shocking as falling in love with a Wyndham. All of my life, I have been taught that your kind is poison, the utter spinners of betrayal and deceit and on that foundation I grew up hating you before I even knew you.

You have changed me, Grey, and for that I will always be grateful. You saw me when I was unable to see myself. You saw a person that I desperately wanted to be, you saw the man I could eventually be; but I can't be that man if I stay here. After what happened, I have realized that my only salvation will come in the form of a clean slate.

Leaving you will be the second hardest thing that I will ever do, staying away to ensure that you are safe, will be the hardest. As much as it pains me to say this, I have to...

Be with Seth.

Leave this town and never look back. Cherish your new family close to your chest, but never come back here to this tainted place that blackens hearts. Love Seth with everything you have in your soul and put me in a drawer where you can remember me fondly and the love we shared. You deserve the world and Seth can give you that. 

 I wish things were different, because you are my fate. However, I am simply your poison and being with me with only bring you heartbreak and put you in danger. 

I am sorry for everything that happened, Grey. 

I am sorry for every moment where you doubted how I felt about you, for every moment when you looked at me with fear in your eyes or hatred; but I am not sorry for every touch and kiss we shared, as I will carry those with me for eternity. They will be the thoughts that keep me warm at night, until such time as we can be together again.

I love you desperately and without reason, Talia Grey Wyndham. You are my Juliet in a life full of Montagues. You are the pure hearted girl who clutched my leaf close to her heart, cherishing my beauty when I was anything but. You are my salvation and the only thought that will keep my heart beating. You have my heart, forever in your clutches. Maybe someday or in a different life, my love.

I will think of you always.

D.R.

I stared at the words on the piece of paper in front of me, words that both encompassed my heart with affection and tore at the mending pieces of my soul. All of his love was laid out right in front of me, to carry with me for as long as I wished. Through all the words, I never felt like it was a goodbye per say. Hardened hearts were incapable of goodbyes and the steel heart that Damian had kept hidden from the world for so long was no different.

I intended even before reading his letter to be with Seth and make a life with him, a life that we would both treasure for the million of moments to come. Now, as I stared at Damian's words, I knew that I had his blessing to be happy. I had the explanation that I needed for why he left; why he left not only the town, but me.

I had seen him for the man he was capable of being. I saw the boy who underneath the anger and pain, had a heart that was full of love; a devoted heart that would quickly stand in front of you and take a bullet if need be.

I would always love Damian. He helped me find myself in a forest where I was lost. He guided me to my new family with the use of his words and stories. He showed me the pieces that were tucked away in this town; pieces I would have never discovered, because I didn't know I needed them to be complete.

Damian Reever had completed me. He had mended the broken pieces and showed me that I could be Talia again. He showed me that no matter what hardships life had laid out for me, I always had a place to call home that would comfort me in my time of need. No matter how vicious the game he and his brother had played with me, I had emerged the victor in the end.

I was finally the unstoppable girl I should have always been.

I never thought that it would have taken just one simple cracked iPhone and an apish boy to change who I was. I always read the fairytales about the prince who rescued the distressed maiden. I never read the stories about the warrior girls who fought against hardships in order to come out on the other side unscathed. It took one horribly disagreeable prince to show me that I had been the warrior girl all along.

My story would never read that I had been saved by love. Love didn't save me. Love didn't mend the broken pieces or heal the pain of losing my mom and never knowing my father. Love didn't bring me closer to a family I never knew. Love didn't make me stronger.

Love didn't save me... I saved it...

I gripped my hands around the neck of life and squeezed. I dug my heels into the ground beneath tradegy's feet and I held on for dear life. It may not have seemed that way during the course of my story, but it was clear in the end. I was the hero of my own story. I didn't need a prince to make my life easier, I wanted a prince in order to make me more unstoppable.

I didn't need Seth, I wanted Seth. I wanted everything that he had to give me and more. I wanted him to be another chapter of my story, which told the reader that I was that much more amazing. I wanted amazing love, because I deserved it.

Deep down in my story, a story that I would someday tell my children, there would be a Damian. In any story I ever told there would be a Damian, a sullen boy who changed the way I viewed people. He took off the shrouds that I had been clouding my vision for so long and exposed me to the wonders of my life. He introduced me to something more important than the now; he introduced me to the what.

He showed me the pieces of my story that I was unable to see, because I was so clouded by who I was. He showed me the stories that coursed through my blood; stories about my ancestors and the pain that coated every single red blood cell that was passed through my lineage.

He showed me the girl beneath the red hair and chocolate eyes. The important things beneath all the punk music and the witty and sarcastic comments. He showed me the things that were tucked away without my knowledge, stuck in the blackness of the abyss; the stuff that had been forever shielded from view,

Maybe someday or in another life.

Those words resonated through my heart, because I knew our story wasn't finished. Our story would be timeless.

Our story had just begun.

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A/N: Hey Guys!

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please comment and vote!

Only 1 more chapter till the end of the 1st book in the Before The Series. *starts to cry*

I'm going to stop there and just say, thanks for now. Thanks for reading this far. Hopefully I will see you all in the second book <3

Until next time,

<3 Amina