Chapter 45

Chapter

Forty-Five

The weightof my decision presses heavily on my chest as I walk back to my jeep. It"s over. Whatever was blossoming between Claire and me, I had severed it, pushed her towards a path that seemed right for her.

But with each step I take towards the parking lot, doubt creeps in, gnawing at me. The thought of shifting and taking to the skies to clear my head is tempting—flying always gives me perspective. Yet, the thought of soaring through the clouds now only reminds me of Claire, of lessons not given and shared skies unexplored.

Instead, I head to my jeep with a new plan. A few days away, riding the waves at some remote beach, seems like the only way to escape the turmoil swirling inside me. It doesn"t matter where as long as the waves are good and my thoughts can be drowned out by the ocean.

Just as I"m about to slam the door and drive off, a familiar voice calls out, "You going to ignore a handicapped old lady hollering after you?" I turn to see Gigi hobbling towards me with her crutches, a stern look on her face that tells me I"m not going anywhere just yet.

I pause, a smile flickering despite my mood. "Sorry, Gigi. What"s up?"

Gigi catches up, leaning slightly on her crutches. "What's up? Are you kidding me? Morgan, I've never met someone as stubborn as you, and that's sayin' something."

I frown, defensive. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You don't know what I'm talking about? Really? How about this: stop being a baby and listen to yourself. Running away isn"t going to solve anything."

I frown, defensive. "I'm not running away. I just need some space."

Gigi shakes her head, her expression softening. "I know you"re hurting, and I know you"re scared. But closing yourself off isn"t the answer. You"ve got a chance here, with Claire, to build something real. Don"t let your fears dictate your future."

I scoff, the hurt resurfacing. "She chose Tomas, Gigi. She's better off with his offer."

Gigi rolls her eyes, "You"re an idiot. She did no such thing. You"ve got cotton in your ears."

Gigi steps closer, her voice lowering to a gentle, almost maternal tone. "Morgan, Sam wouldn"t have wanted you to live like this, closed off from the world, from love."

I swallow hard, the mention of my brother tightening the knot in my chest. Sam was always the brave one, the one who pushed me to take chances, to live fully. And here I am, doing the exact opposite of what he would have encouraged.

Before I can say anything, the day is split by the sound of shattering glass and the buzz of electricity from the pavilion. We both turn to look, the sight confusion spilling out into the parking lot. Gigi gives me a knowing look. "There's more than meets the eye when it comes to that girl," she says, nodding towards the pavilion.

I let out a sigh, a mixture of frustration and affection in my voice. "I know."

Gigi places a hand on my arm, her grip firm. "Then go back there, Morgan. Don"t run from this. Don't make decisions based on what you think she wants. Talk to her, really talk—without assumptions. You might be surprised by what you find out."

Her words, stern yet filled with concern, resonate with me. Standing there, with the ocean breeze round us and the distant sound of the waves crashing, I realize she's right. Running away won"t heal anything; it won't change what I feel for Claire, and it certainly won't help me face the future, whatever it may hold.

With a deep breath, I nod, my resolve strengthening. "Thanks, Gigi. I—I think I needed to hear that."

Gigi pats my arm. "Go on then. Don"t make an old lady chase you down again."

Turning back towards the pavilion, I feel a shift within me. It"s time to face what I"ve been running from, to confront my fears and perhaps, to mend something that I thought was beyond repair. It"s not just about winning Claire back; it"s about understanding the depth of what I feel, and facing the future, no matter how uncertain it may seem.