Say Goodbye by Pascal Francine

Author:Pascal, Francine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2016-01-26T16:00:00+00:00

Eight

At first when Elizabeth woke up on Sunday morning, she couldn't remember what was wrong. She had been dreaming about Todd, and in the warm, half-conscious haze between sleeping and waking, she couldn't quite place the source of her uneasiness. Then, with a start, she remembered.

Todd wasn't there anymore. He was thousands of miles away, and it would be days before she would even hear his voice on the telephone. And his next letter wouldn't come before the next day. It was so bleak. . . .

Then, with a start, Elizabeth remembered Nicholas Morrow and the events that had taken place the day before. "And today"—she groaned and hurled herself back into her pillows—"I'm supposed to go to that barbecue at the Morrows'!"

A minute later Elizabeth was out of bed, padding barefoot over to the table, where Todd's latest letter was lying on top of a volume of poetry. With impatient eyes Elizabeth scanned the first few paragraphs of the letter in which Todd described his new school, the coach, the house in the suburbs his father had decided to buy . . .

"Here!" Elizabeth said at last, carrying the letter back to her bed and resettling herself under the blankets. She read:

Sometimes I feel really mixed up about things, Liz. There's so much I want to tell you, and even when I call, I forget half the things. I feel distant from you, but at the same time I feel as if you're with me all the time, no matter what I'm doing. I'll see something that I think would make you laugh, and I react to it as if you're right here. Does this make any sense?

It sure does, Elizabeth thought sadly, tears welling up in her eyes. She continued to read Todd's letter:

However hard it is for me, I have a feeling it must be even worse for you. At least I have the excitement—or the disruption—of a whole new place to get used to. And that sort of keeps my mind off things. But you—

The only thing that keeps me going is knowing how strong you are, Liz. But I know there are times that you won't feel strong. If you can just remember how much I love you . . .

Elizabeth bit her lip. Todd knew her so well, she thought sadly. He could imagine every mood she experienced before it even occurred. He was the best friend she'd ever had, and no matter what happened she was not going to lose him.

Elizabeth had been taken aback at the sensations she'd experienced the afternoon and evening before. The truth was that there was something very appealing about Nicholas Morrow. He was handsome, mature, sensitive, enough older than Elizabeth to seem sophisticated without being the slightest bit condescending. She would have to be inhuman not to notice that he was charming, Elizabeth admitted to herself reluctantly.

And—added to all his appeal—Elizabeth was lonely. It wasn't that she didn't have the support of a loving family or close friends to turn to.

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