"I'm going to fetch Aunt Dahlia, she's bringing some stuff from her side," Kiaan said when he saw Richard come out from Ellie's room.

He noticed that Richard has his head facing downwards and not paying attention. He bumped his shoulder.

"What's made you look worse than usual?" he joked.

Richard shook his head and continued walking, toward the door.

"Dude, what happened?" Kiaan stood in front of him to block the way.

"Don't fetch Mum or anyone. Poppy is leaving. Sizwe will come home in some time, he's leaving with her. The least I could do is wait for him and make sure they go without any hard feelings," he said trying to be firm.

"What are you talking about?" Kiaan's voice was soft.

"Poppy is leaving, she doesn't want to live here. She doesn't want me to go with her either. Fresh start I guess."

Richard smiled faintly and patted Kiaan's cheek.

"Why'd you get so gloomy? Hey come on man, I understand her choice. It's cool," Richard said.

Kiaan didn't say anything but he hugged Richard tightly and Richard laughed.

"Relax, it's okay," he assured but Kiaan hit his back gently.

"It wouldn't hurt if you cried even a little. Don't bottle up those emotions and act tough. It doesn't suit you Russ," Kiaan said and he himself let out a few tears.

Richard hugged him too and said, "Hey I'm fine-" but he couldn't continue lying to someone who knew him better than he knew himself.

Ellie stayed in her room and realised that she had to go. It was not a choice. It was a permanent decision she had to take. Only she knew about the war that was going on in her mind. 

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Soon everyone knew she was going, Sizwe was home. They gathered at her house, Dahlia tried to resolve everything if there was a problem. Deep down, everyone knew that Ellie made her choice to leave, and she would definitely do so.

Sarita and Kiaan tried to assure her that she is not a burden and that they do not want her to go. Neither was she going to listen, nor was she going to stay.

"My life is falling apart, something needs to be done to get it all back together. Thank you everyone for all that you've done for me. I'm sorry but this is necessary for all of us, not just Mr Russell and I," she said.

"Don't you think you've lost the right to call him Mr Russell anymore?" Sarita asked.

She didn't like what was happening and wanted to voice her opinion. Even though it might  have come across as rude, there was a reaction she needed to hear. It would give everyone assurance.

"No," Richard said quickly, "she won't, ever."

Sarita smiled a little and she felt assured that the reaction she wanted was given. She figured that if they were leaving, they should leave with every drop of love that they entered with.

"I think we should go now. The flight is scheduled for two hours from now. The airport is quite far too," Ellie said.

Sizwe remained quiet, he didn't know how to react to what was happening. A part of him wanted to help Ellie make a decision to stay. The thing was that Ellie told him that she would tell him everything when they're in the flight. He didn't push it.

"Why don't you and Richard talk a little before you guys go? I'm sure that you both need some time to atleast say what you need to. I know you're not going to stay Ellie, but a last conversation would suffice," Dahlia urged.

They went to her room and both of them broke down. Even though they put on a brave face, they could not put up the act anymore.

After a while of crying, saying whatever they needed to, knowing it would never be enough, Ellie left with Sizwe. Kiaan dropped them off at the airport, Richard didn't want to see her actually leave.

It was the beginning of a new life.

Everyone thought it would be a fresh start and even though they'd miss each other, they would eventually learn to live without each other.

That's what they all thought.

Until about a week after they left, Richard got a call that changed his entire life. His Poppy was dead.