I run as fast as I can over to the taxi. I run like my life depends on it.
Sara is so incredibly important to me. I would do anything for her. And she’s one taxi away from leaving.
I manage to get there right as she starts to close the door. I grab the door to stop it from shutting.
“Sara!” I beg, panting from my run. “Please, don’t go.”
“I’m sorry, Lucille,” she says. “It’s over. She figured it out. She found out about my past.”
She looks so ashamed. It breaks my heart. She looks down at her hands.
“I understand if you don’t want to speak to me any more after this, but please just let me go home. I don’t need a lecture to know that I need to be ashamed of my past.”
“Lecture? No! Sara, I want to be with you.”
She looks up at me. Her eyes are red from crying.
“You want to be with me? But it’
s over. Marcella figured it out. We’re not going to be able to convince anyone else.”
“I don’t care. Sara, I’ve been half in love with you since the day I met you. And yesterday, I fell completely in love with you.”
I feel the emotions pouring out as I talk. I’ve never felt this strongly about anyone or anything in my life before.
I need Sara. I’ve never needed anyone more. This thing has turned from a crush to a ruse to real love. And I need her to always be by my side.
I love her. I’ve never known you can love someone this much. I love all of her imperfections and quirks. Everything that makes her into the person that she is, I love.
She looks up at me with her big brown eyes. Her expression is hard to read.
I feel scared. What if she rejects me?
But I’m still glad I did it. I need her to know how much I love her before it’s too late.
I just hope we haven’t gotten to that point yet.
Seventeen
Sara
I ’m shocked at how relieved I feel. The weight that has been weighing on me since I walked out the door has been lifted.
As soon as Lucille confesses her love to me, I feel so happy I could float away. A tangle of stress I didn’t realize I had disappears.
And I realize that I love her too.
I get out of the car and stand up to face her. I look over her face. Her dark hair and gray eyes are the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.
I embrace her.
“I love you too,” I tell her.
My eyes start to well up with emotion. I can’t believe what a change it’s been. I go from feeling lower than low to the happiest I’ve ever been.
Only Lucille could pull me from the depths of despair like that.
I hug her tighter, relishing in how good it feels to have her against me.