Fell In Love With My Best Friend.

Good Bye Liam

Today was the day....
Today was the horrible day of Liam's last day with Erica for awhile. Liam was already packed up, but they were just waiting for the moving truck to pick all their stuff up and haul it to the nearest truck to California. Erica and Liam have decided to spend their last hour together on his porch waiting. Erica looked at Liam with tears swelling in her eyes.
"Liam...I don't want you to go."
"I don't want to go either," Liam said, tears swelling up in his eyes as well. He knew he was going to let them out as soon as he pulled out of this parking lot, but he couldn't let them out now. He just couldn't.
"Erica...Since we only have an hour, I want you to listen to what I have to say because I don't know the next time we'll be together," he said, grabbing Erica's hands. Erica just looked him in the eyes to tell him to continue.
"I love you. I know that's not what you need to hear right now, but it's true. You're my girlfriend and best friend. I need you to know that."
"I do know that."
"You don't know all of it. Since I'm leaving, we won't be talking much, and I don't want 'us' in the way of you finding someone else. I'll be gone for awhile, but I don't want you to forget about me. I give you permission to date other people, but just remember that I will be back."
"What? Other people? Are you breaking up with me?"
"It sounds that way."
"Why? I thought, you said you loved me!" Erica said, pulling back from him.
"I do, but while I'm gone..."
"No. I can't move on from you!" Erica yelled with tears coming down her cheeks. Liam wiped them away and sighed.
"Erica. This is really hard for me too. This won't be forever, you have to understand that. We have to have experience with other people before we can be together again."
"Why are you talking like this?"
"It's the truth. It will take me a long time to move on from you, but I will. Maybe not all the way, but I will enough for me to date someone else."
"I can't believe this."
"I know, I know," Liam said, pulling Erica to him in a hug. He rested his chin on her head as he felt Erica let all her emotions out on his coat. They were standing out in the cold, but they didn't really care. They just wanted time alone, and this was the only place that was possible. Erica soon pulled away from him and wiped her eyes.
"I love you, Liam."
"I love you too. I promise this isn't forever..." Liam leaned his head down and kissed Erica on the lips as he closed his eyes. The kiss seemed to last forever, but they eventually pulled away as Erica looked at him.
"I believe you."
Liam smiled and gave Erica one last hug before his parents opened the door to let him know to get his things. He nodded and turned to Erica before he went inside, "Don't go anywhere yet." She nodded and waited for Liam to grab the bags he could carry and set them in the car and trunk of the car. The bigger boxes were going in the truck, but they were packing up the car a little earlier because the truck man pays by the hour. About a half an hour later, the truck showed up to collect the rest of the stuff.
Liam helped the truck guys take boxes out of the house, so the truck was packed soon enough as Erica waited in the cold watching Liam pack up. Her chest was hurting so much right now, she had the biggest headache in the world. Eventually, Liam ran to her and picked her up in a giant hug. She couldn't help but smile, but when he let her down, she couldn't help but frown.
"Good luck with those California girls. I hear they're pretty dangerous," Erica joked trying to leave this good-bye on a happy note.
Liam laughed and kissed her forehead. "Bye, best friend. Don't forget me."
"How could I ever? Be careful."
"I will. I promise." He started to walk away but turned back around. He gave her another hug and kissed her forehead. "I will be back as soon as I can. I will come back for you."
"I'll miss you for the time you're gone, Liam."
Giving her another tight hug, he whispered, "I love you so much."
Erica let out a nervous laugh and gave him one last hug. He smiled and walked to his car, looking at her with a sad look before getting in. Erica waved good-bye as the car and truck pulled out of the parking lot. She ran into her house and slammed the door behind her. She sank to the floor against the door and let it all out. She ripped her gloves and hat off as she tried to warm herself up. Erica's sister ran into the room and sat in front of her. She knew what just happened, but she wasn't going to ask questions.
"Erica. Let's get you something hot to drink and a blanket."
"No...I don't need to. I just need my best friend," Erica said quietly as she threw her head on her knees as she rocked back and forth. She felt her sister get up and leave the room, but she didn't even try to look up. She just wanted to crawl into a little ball and hide away from the rest of the world for the rest of her life. Just then, her parents walked into the room, and she felt someone pick her up in their arms. By the smell of cheap cologne, she could tell it was her dad, but she didn't scream, didn't refuse, didn't move. She couldn't care less of what would happen to her at this point.
*********
*3 months later*