Chapter 41 ~ Darcy

“Are you sure you’ll be fine?” Mum asks for what it seems the millionth time. I sigh deeply and with a smile, I close the distance between us and I hug her.

“Yes, Mum. Don’t worry, everything will be fine. Carter will be waiting for me and he’ll help me with everything in London. I’ll see you soon. Take care of Lizzie and I’ll call you as soon as I get there,” I promise looking her in the eyes once I break the embrace.

Her eyes are teary and I know she is fighting hard not to cry. Lizzie, on the other hand, is made a mess. Her nose is so red and her cheeks are wet, she hasn’t stopped crying since we woke up this morning. I must admit, seeing her like this hurts like I’ve never thought it would hurt, it makes me want to forget about everything and stay just to hug her until she is happy again, but I know that if I stay, she won’t be happy either.

Saying goodbye is always hard, whether is for a couple of days or for a couple of years. Seeing the people you love leaving your side always hurt and leaving people behind hurts the same way. But Lizzie has Mum this time, they are happy and they will be fine. Lizzie will have a mother this time, a real one and things will be better for her.

I know they will be fine and it’s my turn to fly this time, and I can’t carry them with me. I have wings and I better use them. It’s time for me to jump.

It was hard to take this decision but I realised of something very important and I did listen to Liam. I’m not doing this for him or for my family, I’m doing this because this is what I want, what I need. Plus, no matter what choice I make, I’ll never lose my family. I’ll never lose Lizzie because blood runs thicker than water and no matter what happens in the future, she will always be my little sister.

But she does need to grow and so do I. I can’t be always Lizzie’s big sister, her substitute mother. I need to be myself, I need to be Darcy Williams, I need to find my own path and I can’t expect that it will be next to Lizzie’s. Wherever this takes me, it’s going to me my path and it will be fine.

I look at my mother’s right and I see the only friend I made in my time here in Chile. She also looks about to cry but she is smiling and I know she is proud of me, proud of the decision I’ve made and what I’m about to start in my life. I step closer and I hug her very tightly and she replies with the same strengths.

“Promise me you won’t forget about me, okay?” Maje asks and I nod fervently. “I’m really going to miss you, Darcy.”

“And I’ll miss you. You have to visit me,” I tell her and she giggles.

“You don’t have to ask twice for that. I’ll see you soon. Have a safe flight and send my love to the lads.”

“Will do,” I answer with a smile of my own as I step back, looking into her eyes, believing we will see each other again.

Then I have to say goodbye to my little sister and she knows this because she releases Mum’s hand and runs towards me, throwing herself to my arms, crying again. I hug her tightly, burying my face in her curls, keeping her close. “Promise me you’re going to be happy. The happiest!” She asks and I chuckle lightly.

“I’ll be the happiest person on the planet!” I swear with a deep breath. “And when I come to visit you, you’ll see how much I’m working on achieving my dreams. You’ll be proud of your big sister!”

“I’m always proud of you,” Lizzie replies and I feel my heart tightening at her words. “You’re the best big sister ever. I love you, Darcy.”

“And I love you, Lizzie. I’ll see you soon. Promise you’ll be a good girl and you won’t get in trouble.”

“I promise!” She sings more cheerfully this time. “Have a safe flight and I’ll see you soon,” she adds smiling tenderly and then she kisses my cheek. “I’ll be waiting for you here.”

“I’ll come back soon,” I promise finally letting her go and grabbing my bag. “Love you, guys!” I tell to the three women with me in the airport.

I turn around and walk away, head held high because I’m sure of what I’m doing, I’m sure this is what I want and the right thing to do. I’ll be fine, my family will be fine. This is something I have to do if I want to grow up as a person.

Finally, it’s my turn to jump and let myself fall before I start flying to my dreams.

I’m ready.

* * *

The reason why Liam is not the one picking me up at the airport is because he’s been acting a bit weird lately. If I call him he says he is really tired and he wants to go to bed.  Plus, I want to surprise him by telling him that everything is settled. I haven’t told him about my decision because I don’t want him to think I’m doing this for him. Me coming back to London to start Uni is all on me, this is what I want to do.

That’s why I’ve asked Carter to help me to get into Uni, to give the exams and getting a dorm in one of the colleges. In three days I’ll start my classes and I’m very nervous, but so happy at the same time. It wasn’t easy, I had to do many interviews and exams whilst I was in Chile. I went many times to the embassy, but I did it. I’m officially a journalism student now.

And I want to tell Liam about all this in person so I can really explain it to him. It’s going to be my surprise when I see him tomorrow morning. Today, I have to settle down.

When I see my best friend at the airport, I can’t help it. I run towards him like in a cheesy movie, throwing my arms around his neck as I hug him with all I have. I feel like I haven’t seen him in three lifetimes and it’s so good to have him near again. He hugs me back, lifts me and spins with me a couple of times.

“Oh how I’ve missed you, Darcy! You’re finally here!” he exclaims extremely cheerful, still crushing me in his arms but I don’t complain. “How are you? Had a nice flight?”

“It was fine and I’m just so glad to be back. I won’t lie, I cried a lot, but I’m fine, I know this is the right decision,” I tell him this time looking him in the eyes so he can see how determined I am.

“You’ll be fine. Wanna leave?” At his question, I nod. Excited to put a foot on my campus, my future home.

“Let’s go!” I exclaim gleefully, excited for what it comes.

Carter smiles at me as he helps me with my luggage and we leave the airport. On our way, I call Mum to let them now I got back safe and sound. Lizzie is still sad but when she talks to Carter, I know she is a bit better. She makes him promise he’ll take care of me. I also call Maje for the same reason.

On our way to Uni, I tell Carter all what happened in Chile and how I came to this decision, how hard it was. I never explained him much what was going on, so now I’m telling him all what I kept in the shadows for so many months. He looks at me with sorrow in his eyes.

“I wish I could’ve been there for you, Darcy,” he says and I shake my head dismissively.

“It’s okay. Facing this alone helped me. I feel stronger now, more independent. I needed this to grow a bit as a person I guess and I had to make this decision on my own.”

Carter smiles at me, his brown eyes shining with joy. “I’m so proud of you, Darcy.”

I can only smile as a response and then I keep my eyes on the road, on the familiar road. How I missed my city! I’m so happy to be back, I finally feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be. After jumping, I don’t feel like falling anymore and I’ve taken flight.

We get to my dorm and Carter helps me to tidy up and settle down all my stuff. I’ve sent a few things ahead and I make a list of the things I have to buy now. By when we’re done, it looks pretty empty but this is my new home and even if Lizzie and Mum are not here, it’s my place. It’s something new, but something I looked for it. I only have my bed, some books, my laptop on my desk and some things that have sentimental value for me, like drawings by Lizzie, pictures of my family, Liam, Carter, my friends here, and even Maje. I have some other things Lizzie gave me, like her Teddy Bear Mr Belly.

Carter stays with me until they kick him out and I spend my first night in my new room. I’m so tired that I fall asleep almost immediately. I send Liam a text because he doesn’t pick up when I call him, telling him I’ll see him really, really soon. But by when I wake up, he hasn’t even read the message.

I start to get worried. What if he’s not okay? What if he is feeling poorly or has problems with his kidney again and he hasn’t told me so I won’t get worried?

Wit a bad feeling, I take my purse and keys and leave the campus to get a taxi and I give the cabby Liam’s address. My anxiety is driving me mad, but I try to remind myself that everything is fine, that Liam is fine and that he will be very happy to see me again. I told him that my plane was supposed to get here in the evening, so I’ll surprise him by knocking at his door before noon. I just hope he is there because I haven’t even spoken to the lads to make sure he’ll be here at this time, but they’re still in their break…

I get there and knock at his door, but there’s no answer, yet I hear Brit barking loudly. At least I know he’s not out running with Brit. But maybe he went out alone or maybe he is with the lads. I ring the bell one more time, paying more attention to the noises coming from his house. I still hear Brit barking and then I hear his voice, complaining.

“Shh! Please be quiet, you’re killing me.” I think I hear, but I’m not sure.

Confused, I wait until the door finally opens and I find Liam staring at me in utter shock. But he is not the same guy I saw in July. He is not the same Liam I said goodbye crying at the airport. This Liam looks like he hasn’t taken a shower in days, his hair is all messy and opaque, almost lifeless. There are dark bags under his eyes, his skin is pale again and it seems like he has lost weight again. He is in his pants only and it looks like he just woke up. Also, he looks like he is having the worst hangover ever.

“Darcy?” He asks confused, blinking several times as if with that things would be clear. “But… is it Friday already?” That question really shocks me. What’s going on here? “But I thought you were getting here later today. Don’t tell me it’s Saturday and I forgot to pick you up!”

I hold my breath, not believing what I’m seeing.

“Liam, what happened?” I ask, having a really, really bad feeling about this.

-:-:-:-

Don't get mad, this is the last cliffhanger in the story because the next chapter is the last one. I can't believe time has passed so quickily! And I can't believe you got 1.5k votes in 24 hours. 

Shout outs for @maurasza and @ninjastar954! Happy birthday, girls!

Bel, xx