Chapter Sixteen

I held my breath for a few minutes before speaking. “It just wasn’t the same without having you there…” It was true. My life wasn’t the same after Ashley and I lost touch with each other.

She held me closer to her as my words sank into her. She didn’t speak a word and I was afraid I had said something wrong. I became uncomfortable with the silence and tried to get up to give her some space while she thought.

I pushed down on the couch and lifted my body up but was stopped when a strong hand grasped my forearm. I looked back at her brown eyes and saw a look of sadness coming through.

“I’m sorry…” I said not knowing what else to say as she continued to look at me with sad eyes.

“No Spence…I’m sorry…” She said while a tear came down her cheek leaving a trail of mascara behind.

I reached out and brushed the tear away and stroked her cheek softly. She closed her eyes as my fingers continued to stroke her soft skin.

“Why are you sorry sweetie?” I said feeling my heart wrench at the sight of my beautiful girlfriend crying.

“I should have tried harder to keep us together…but…but I let you go…I let you go…” She said breaking down.

“Shhh….” I said pulling her into my body and stroking her hair letting my fingers move through her silky brunette curls.

“You would have stayed with me had I asked you to…and I knew this…but I saw how happy that acceptance letter made you that I just couldn’t make you stay…”

I closed my eyes as she spoke knowing that she was right. She knew me so well that she could see my very soul by just looking into my eyes. I could still remember how bittersweet that day had been especially for me.

—-

“Hurry up Ash!” I yelled across the courtyard at my girlfriend. She was sitting at a table with Kyla whispering into each other’s ear. “ASH!” I yelled one more time louder getting a little aggravated with her lack of attention.

She smiled at Kyla before jumping up and making her way over to me. “You rang my dear?”