Remember

25

Caitlin and Barry were doing their best, to remain hidden. If they went out, it was for a very brief time, and they did their best to remain unrecognisable. Caitlin had a wig and some contact lenses in to disguise herself. Barry wore the exact same things to disguise himself. Caitlin was really getting fed up with all this secrecy, she wanted to live her life normally, but this was not possible. As long as her dad and his men were looking for them, this was impossible. The worst thing was that Caitlin couldn't contact anyone, knowing that they could be traced by using their mobile phones. She really wanted to know how her mum was, but she couldn't do anything

"Barry, how much longer?"

"Till they have stopped looking for us I guess"

"But that might never happen. Barry, we're hiding here like criminals, when we haven't done anything"

"I know but what do we do?"

"I miss my mum. My heart aches for her, to see her, to talk to her"

"And you don't think I miss mine? How must they be feeling? They don't know anything"

"Barry, I think that we should do as they say"

"You don't mean that"

"Barry, none of us are happy living like this. We both have people missing us, wondering where we are. I know that we both love each other but, but they'll never let us be happy as long as we are together. So let's just count our losses and go back"

"I can't believe this"

"I know. I don't want this either. But Barry, neither of us is happy living like this. We're  like fugitives. We can't speak or meet anyone. Maybe this is the universes way of telling us that we're not meant to be together. They won't stop hunting us, as long as we're together. So I know it hurts, but better to be alive, then dead. And who knows? Maybe one day, their anger might go away, and they will allow us to be together. Then we can be together happily and freely"

"You don't believe that?"

"Maybe not, but at the moment it's all I have"

"You sure about this?"

"No. But it's the only option we have. We can't live like this"

"I'll miss you"

"I'll miss you too", said Caitlin, with tears running down her face, "this isn't easy for me either. But right now it's all we've got"

Barry lay on the bed. Caitlin lay next to him, with her head on his chest, crying. Barry put his arms around her, and hugged her tightly. Who knew when he'd get the chance to do it again?

Caitlin drove home, the next morning. She did it at first light, as she knew that she'd be unable to say goodbye to Barry. It would break her. But she was doing this for both of them. What kind of life had they been living? That was no way to live. Constantly on the run, hiding from her dad. No, now she would do everything out in the open. No more hiding 

"No need to hunt us. I'm here"

Everyone was shocked and surprised 

"I've ended things with Barry. Are you happy now?"

There was shocked silence around her

"I will do as you all say. But I have one condition. No one can touch Barry. Nothing must happen to him, otherwise you know what I can do"

Everyone was silent

"Good. Now that that's all clear, I trust that no one has any problems"

Caitlin went upstairs to unpack. She flopped on her bed. Was she doing the right thing? She wondered how Barry was doing, what he was up to. She hadn't even said goodbye to him. But she had made the decision and now she was determined to stick with it. No matter how hard it was

"Caitlin"

Caitlin turned around 

"Honey, are you okay?"

"Mum, I'm okay. Really. It hurts, but I did what was best for him. I let him go, because dad would of never stopped looking for him"

"Can you live without him?"

"I'm going to have to try to. I let him go for his safety. I can't be selfish and put him in danger, just for me"

"So what are you going to do?"

"I'll be fine. I've got a business to run. That'll keep me busy. I'll be fine. Don't worry about me"

Duff duff duff. Oh no, is it all over? As always, feedback appreciated