Tear Stained Beaches (15 page)

Looking at it now, it shined just as brightly as it did that day. I thought about putting it back on my finger, or placing it in the pocket of my purse until I found a place for it later, but what did I need it for? That ring symbolized something that didn’t exist anymore. It symbolized a lifetime commitment. It meant that two people destined to be together had found each other and that they would lean on each other through the good and the bad. That ring was the sign of a promise, never meant to be broken; but it had been. I didn’t need to be reminded of all those things, so I bent back down and placed the ring gently next to the key. Leaving it behind meant there was hope I could move on.

I turned off the light and closed the door for the final time. As I walked down the porch steps, Chase was pulling into the driveway. Of all the times he had gotten home from work early. He pulled his car up next to mine and stepped out.

“I didn’t think you’d still be here.”

“Just saying my goodbyes. You know,” I said.

He nodded. “I really am sorry. For all of this.”

“I know you are. If only sorry was enough.” Pausing for a moment, I stared at the driveway. “I should get going.”

“It was good to see you.”

“Goodbye Chase.” I got into the car, placed the final box of my things in the passenger’s seat and closed the door.

He watched me back out of the driveway and turn onto the road before he headed inside. I looked into the rear
view mirror, and for the first time in a long time, I saw a girl who had hope.

I felt a smile graze my face. I had closed a huge chapter in my life and was about to embark on another.

“You’re going to be just fine Haylie. It’s all going to be ok,” I said as I pulled away.

You see, in every story, it’s not about the ending. It’s about the chapters in between and how you make it through them, but we all know how important it is to get through them in order to get to see how it ends. While you’re going through them, it might be scary, terrifying actually, but you’ll learn so much about yourself at the end of each one. During this entire process I surprised myself at how strong I really was. I had done something I never thought was possible. I stood up for what I’d believed in, and walked away from something that wasn’t good enough, because I knew I deserved better. It was going to be a long hard road; but I was ready.

I turned on the radio and one of my favorite songs was on.
Don’t Stop Believin’
By Journey. I sang along to the lyrics and adjusted the rear view mirror, so I could no longer see the house I once called home.
 
There would be no more looking back. From now on, I was looking only to the future,
and I was ready to take on whatever it was that would be waiting for me.