Three weeks.

It had been three weeks since that night.

Three weeks since I had walked away.

Three weeks since Bryan had let me.

I had barely slept since then. Every night felt too long, too empty, my body caught in this strange limbo where I was exhausted but unable to shut my brain off.

I had done what I told myself I had to do. I let him go. I didn't ask him to stay.

Then why did it hurt so much?

I had ignored every single one of his texts. His calls. His attempts to reach me.

Not because I hated him. Not because I was angry.

But because I didn't know how to exist in a world where Bryan Munzo was leaving and there was nothing I could do to stop it.

I had spent so long keeping people at arm's length, so scared of getting too close, too attached, only for them to leave.

And then Bryan came crashing into my life, tearing down every single wall I had built just to leave anyway.

I should have been prepared for this.

I should have known.

But I hadn't.

That was what hurt the most.

I curled deeper into my bed, staring at the ceiling, numb and motionless, willing myself not to check my phone. I knew what today was. I had known for weeks.

Bryan was leaving.

His flight was in a few hours.

And I couldn't let myself fall apart.

I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe slowly.

Until a knock at my door shattered the silence.

I stiffened.

The knock came again, more insistent this time.

"Amber," Isabella's voice came softly through the door, but I could already hear the edge in it.

I didn't answer.

"Amber, I know you're awake."

I squeezed my eyes shut.

The door creaked open a second later, and I felt the weight of her footsteps as she stepped inside.

I didn't move.

Didn't turn my head.

Didn't acknowledge her.

I felt the bed dip beside me, then the warmth of Isabella's presence as she settled next to me.

For a moment, she didn't say anything.

She just sat there, like she was waiting for me to speak first.

When I didn't, she sighed.

"You know what today is."

I swallowed hard, my fingers tightening around the blanket.

"Amber."

I blinked up at the ceiling. "Don't."

Isabella exhaled, shaking her head. "He's leaving in a few hours."

"I know."

"Then why aren't you going to see him?"

I turned my head slowly, finally meeting her gaze. She was looking at me with so much patience, so much understanding, like she knew exactly how much I was hurting.

Because she did.

She knew everything.

She had been the one to hold me that night, when I had finally broken, when I had let myself cry until I had nothing left.

She had listened when I told her what happened. When I told her how much I loved him. When I told her how much it fucking hurt to be the one letting him go.

And now?

She was calm, like she had been preparing for this moment.

Like she knew what I needed to hear.

"Amber," she said, voice soft but firm. "You're going to regret this."

I let out a short, humorless laugh. "I already do."

"Then why are you still here?"

I exhaled, my chest feeling too tight, too heavy. "Because it's easier this way."

Isabella shook her head. "No, it's not."

I sat up slightly, my throat aching, my head spinning. "Izzy, I can't."

"Why not?" she pushed, tilting her head.

"Because it's not going to change anything," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath. "He's still leaving."

Isabella studied me for a long moment, then reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "And that's why you have to go."

I let out a shaky breath. "I don't know how to say goodbye to him."

Isabella smiled, but it was sad.

"Then don't," she whispered. "Just go see him."

I swallowed hard, my entire body tense.

I wanted to.

God, I wanted to.

I had spent three weeks ignoring him, pretending I was okay, pretending I didn't care.

But I did.

I always had.

And now?

Now, I was out of time.

I looked at Isabella, my fingers still curled tightly around the blanket.

She just nodded once, as if giving me permission to admit what I already knew.

And with a deep, shaky breath, I whispered the words I had been too scared to say for weeks.

"I don't want to let him go."

Isabella smiled again, softer this time.

I closed my eyes for half a second, taking a deep breath, my hands trembling.

Then, finally—

I threw the covers back and stood up.

And Isabella?

She was already grabbing my jacket.

—-------------------------

The drive to Bryan's house felt both too fast and too slow.

My hands were clenched in my lap the entire time, my heart hammering against my ribs so hard it felt like it might break through. Isabella kept glancing at me from the driver's seat, but she didn't say anything.

She didn't have to.

Because I was barely holding myself together.

Every second that passed, every street we turned onto, every moment that brought me closer to him—it all made my chest tighter, heavier, impossible to breathe.

And then suddenly—

We were there.

The house looked exactly the same. The porch, the warm glow from the living room windows, the slight creak of the front steps that I knew too well.

It was the same.

But everything was different.

Because after today, Bryan wouldn't be here anymore.

Isabella put the car in park but didn't turn off the engine. She glanced at me again, her voice softer now. "You got this."

I didn't respond.

Because I didn't know if I did.

I just forced myself to move.

To get out of the car.

To walk up to the house one last time.

The second I stepped inside, I felt it.

The weight of the moment. The finality of it.

There were bags by the door, packed and ready. His baseball gear was stacked neatly against the wall. The air smelled like the same mix of cologne and fabric softener that I had grown so used to, the one that felt like home.

But it wasn't home anymore.

Because Bryan was leaving.

And then—there he was.

He was standing in the kitchen, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder, talking quietly with his mom. His back was to me at first, his shoulders tense, his head tilted down like he was bracing himself for what was coming.

And then his mom must have seen me—because her eyes flickered to mine, and she placed a hand on Bryan's arm.

He turned.

And the second our eyes met—everything else disappeared.

His lips parted slightly, his entire body freezing in place. His eyes ran over my face, like he wasn't sure if I was real or if he was imagining me.

And then—he swallowed hard, his throat bobbing, his eyes turning glassy.

For a second, neither of us moved.

Neither of us spoke.

And then, in one slow, uneven breath—Bryan whispered, "You came."

My entire body shook, my arms wrapping tightly around myself because I wasn't sure how to keep it together.

I forced a weak, trembling nod. "Yeah."

His lips parted like he wanted to say something else, but nothing came out.

His mom looked between us, her own expression sad but understanding. She reached up, squeezing Bryan's shoulder, before quietly stepping out of the kitchen, leaving us alone.

And that was when it really hit me.

I only had minutes left with him.

After today—he'd be gone.

I inhaled sharply, my throat aching, my vision blurring.

Bryan noticed.

And before I could react—he was in front of me.

His hands came up to my face, gently cupping my cheeks, his thumbs brushing just under my eyes where the first few tears had already slipped.

"Hey," he murmured, his voice rough, unsteady. "Don't cry."

I let out a broken breath, my hands gripping onto his wrists, holding onto him because I wasn't sure if I'd ever be able to let go.

"I don't know how to do this," I whispered, my voice barely above a breath.

Bryan swallowed, his eyes shining with something deep, something wrecked.

"Me neither."

A small sniffle sounded from behind us.

Bryan and I both turned just as Lily ran into the kitchen, her tiny arms wrapping around Bryan's waist, holding onto him so tightly it made my heart physically ache.

"I don't want you to go," she whimpered, pressing her face into his stomach.

Bryan's entire body shook with the force of emotion, his arms wrapping around his little sister, pulling her in, holding her close.

"I know, Lily," he whispered, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I know."

Her little shoulders shook with silent sobs, and that was it—I lost it.

I pressed a hand over my mouth, tears streaming down my face, my chest tight and aching and broken.

And then, without thinking—I stepped forward.

I wrapped my arms around both of them, pressing my cheek against Bryan's shoulder, one hand resting on Lily's back.

Bryan sucked in a sharp, shaking breath, his arms tightening around both of us.

We just stood there, the three of us, holding onto each other, not ready to let go.

And for one small, fleeting second—I let myself believe that maybe this wasn't the end.

After a few minutes, Bryan finally let go of Lily, crouching down so he was at eye level with her.

"I'm coming back," he promised, his voice thick, wrecked.

She sniffled, rubbing her tiny fists against her puffy eyes. "You promise?"

Bryan smiled, but it was sad, like he wasn't sure if he was lying or not. "I promise."

Lily nodded slowly, then turned, throwing her arms around my waist next.

My heart shattered all over again.

I ran my fingers through her hair, pressing a kiss to her temple, not even trying to hold back my tears.

—-----

The world outside felt too quiet.

The car was parked in the driveway, the trunk now loaded with Bryan's bags, the engine running like a countdown ticking closer and closer to the moment I wasn't ready for.

Bryan stood beside the car, his back to me, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.

I didn't know if he was waiting for me or if he just couldn't bring himself to leave yet.

Lily had finally gone back inside, her tiny frame shaking with sobs as their mom carried her away, whispering something I couldn't hear. I had watched them disappear down the hallway, the sound of her crying making the weight in my chest heavier, tighter, unbearable.

And now?

Now it was just us.

Bryan exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair before finally turning to face me.

And the second our eyes met, I knew.

This was it.

This was the last time.

His lips parted like he wanted to say something, but I didn't give him the chance.

I stepped forward, closing the distance between us, wrapping my arms around his waist, pressing my face into his chest.

He didn't hesitate.

His arms came around me instantly, strong and tight and desperate, like he wasn't ready to let go yet either.

We stood like that for a long moment, neither of us speaking, neither of us moving, just holding on, memorizing, feeling.

And then, finally—Bryan breathed my name.

I looked up, tears streaming freely down my cheeks, my lips trembling.

He stared at me like he was memorizing my face, like he was afraid this was the last time he'd ever see me.

And maybe it was.

Bryan's jaw tightened, his hands sliding to my face, his thumbs brushing my skin with the softest touch.

And then—

Without thinking, without hesitating, without stopping to remind myself that this wouldn't change anything—

I kissed him.

The moment our lips met, everything else disappeared.

It was slow, deep, full of everything we couldn't say, everything we wanted to hold on to, everything we knew we were about to lose.

His hands slid into my hair, his body pressing against mine, like he was trying to commit the way we fit together to memory.

I tasted salt, but I didn't know if it was his tears or mine.

Maybe it was both.

The kiss lingered, neither of us pulling away, neither of us willing to be the one to end it.

Because the second we did—this would be real.

Bryan's breath shook against my lips when he finally broke the kiss, pressing his forehead to mine.

"I love you," he whispered.

I swallowed hard, my entire body trembling.

"I love you too."

Bryan exhaled, his grip tightening for just a second.

Then, finally—he let me go.

I took a shaky step back, wrapping my arms around myself because I didn't know what else to do.

Bryan clenched his jaw, his hands hovering like he wanted to reach for me but knew he couldn't anymore.

And then—

With one last look, he turned and got into the car.

The door slammed shut, the final sound of everything coming to an end.

I barely felt Isabella step beside me, her hand slipping into mine, squeezing gently as the car pulled out of the driveway, moving further and further away.

And then—he was gone.

The moment I couldn't see the car anymore, my legs gave out.

Isabella caught me before I hit the ground.

And for the first time since I had met Bryan Munzo—I let myself fall completely apart.

—------------------

🚨 THE EPILOGUE DROPS TOMORROW! 🚨

I can't believe we're almost at the end—but here we are. The final chapter. The last goodbye. The grand finale.

Are we ready? Absolutely not. Are we doing it anyway? Yes.

See you tomorrow for the Epilogue.