Everything That Glitters Ain't Gold - Danielle Martin (the snowy day read aloud .txt) 📗

Ava quickly sniffled away her tears after suddenly realizing this was all for the best. After today there would be no more wondering. No more what if’s.  No more heartbreak.

“Well, I got to get going now…” she couldn’t take seeing his saddened face any longer. It hurt too much. She threw her hand up and began to wave goodbye. “Thank you for listening and thank you for understanding.” Once again, she turned to leave abruptly.

 He spoke to her with her back turned. “You take care of yourself, Ava… I love you…”

She halted in place, the word love slipping past his lips sending shivers down her spine. He said it so casually. She glanced over her shoulder to look at him one last time. He stared back in silence examining her as if he were taking a mental picture. For the life of her, Ava couldn’t figure out why he was so damn attractive, making it extremely difficult to walk away. For 2 years she attempted to come up with the right words to finally say goodbye to him. And now that the deed had been done, she still felt empty inside. As if something were missing. Ava retrieved her keys from her purse and clicked the lock to her Toyota. It was best to get far away before she began second guessing.  She began to move fast, hurrying before he stopped her or she stopped herself.

“Ava….” He called out to her one last time.

Aggressively, she twisted her body around to him. “Whattt???” she shouted loudly. “What now??? Haven’t you already said enough??? Just let me leave! Please!” she instantly turned frantic, her hesitance to leave driving her mentally insane. She hated being vulnerable. She hated resisting.

Blake was calm again. He took two steps back and spoke while backing away. “I just wanted you to know…. I’m letting you walk away now because this is want you want. I respect your space. But this is not the end…This is not over….”

She froze still and her body stiffened. Ava’s heart instantly began beating rapidly. “What does that mean???” she asked, repeating him silently inside her head.  I respect your space. But this is not the end…This is not over…. She looked at him nervously.

Blake smiled one last time and backed away even further. “I told you I would always be in your corner… I meant that… God is going to bring you back to me… I just know it… Only time will tell…” He spoke confidently. As if he had a crystal ball and was looking right into the future. As usual, Ava was at a loss for words.

 “Drive safely, Ava…. I love you” He told her once again. She watched him turn on his heel and began walking in the opposite direction heading back to the church. She stood staring at him walk away. The further he got, the more confused she became. Should I chase after him? Should I ask him to explain what he just said? Ava knew damn well she didn’t need an explanation. Everything made so much sense. Slowly, still in a daze she turned back to her car, swung open the door and slid into the driver’s seat. Shutting the door behind her, she looked into the rearview mirror and continued watching Blake walk away. Disappearing out of her life. For some reason, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. She didn’t know if this would be the last time they saw each other. Then, his voice replayed itself inside her head once again. God is going to bring you back to me… Only time will tell…

She watched Blake walk up the steps to the church, open the double doors and disappear inside. He was gone. She let out the breath she had been holding in as soon as he was out of eyesight. There was no need to continue looking back. No more rearview mirrors. No more second guessing. Ava cranked up the ignition and silently began to quote one of her favorite poems. She closed her eyes as she chanted. “Unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward. ... Sometimes letting go is an act of far greater power than hanging on.” She opened her eyes after citing the words that she had grown to know very well. “Thanks Susan” she smiled and thanked her out loud. “Thank you or helping him… Thank you saving the love of my life…”

Almost immediately, Ava felt a boost of rejuvenation fill her body. She now felt a confidence that she hadn’t felt in a long time. Her lips slowly curved into a smile. She looked into the mirror, this time speaking to herself. “If it’s meant to be, God will bring him back to me…” She winked at herself. No more looking back… She had finally decided to stop looking for happiness in the same place she lost it. It was time to discover herself. Time to focus on herself.

“It’s over for now… But it’s not over for good….”

Content. Satisfied. Happy. Finally, Ava had what she had been hoping for all along.

THE END

Publication Date: 04-04-2018

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