'Aaron's Goodbyes Part One'

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

-JULY 2012-

The pub was bustling with laughter and conversation, however in the back it was a stark contrast to out there. Chas was sat alone at the kitchen table thinking about what her son Aaron had told her a few days ago, she had tried to change his mind and she wasn't done yet despite there being no change of heart so far. Chas sighed as Aaron walked past her without saying a word, and she shook her head as he left the living room. She quickly got up and followed him quickly. "Aaron! You need to think about this!" she pleaded as he stopped halfway up the stairs and turned to her.

"My minds made up mum; it's time for me to leave."

Chas shook her head desperately. "And where exactly are you going to go? Your life is here, you're family...Jackson..."

"Jacksons dead" Aaron replied bluntly. "It doesn't matter where I go...it's just a grave – he's always with me"

"Yes I know that love but why the change all of a sudden, you're so much better now, you've stopped hurting yourself" she looked at him quizzically, hoping her statement was true.

Aaron nodded as he sighed. "Yeah I have!"

"So why leave if you feel better in yourself now?"

"Because everywhere I look in this village, I see Jackson, he changed my life so much I owe it to him not to waste it...I'm going to join Hazel...she gets back in the country Friday, I'm meeting her in London then were going off...I dunno where yet"

"Frid- Tomorrow! No Aaron please you need to think about this" Chas told him.

Aaron shook his head. "Believe me I've thought about nothing else since she left...my minds made up and you have to accept that" he turned and carried on up the stairs into his bedroom.

Once inside he turned on the radio and looked at the half packed bag and sighed before setting about packing the rest of the things he was taking. He opened the under bed drawer and took out a few photographs and looked at them, one of them was of him and Jackson in bar west that he'd had printed not that long ago and the other was while they were on holiday in Lanzarote. He smiled warmly as he remembered the memories that came with those photographs. The more he looked at them the more upset he became as he remembered how it was before that horrible night on October 6th 2010 that left Jackson paralysed from the neck down permanently, that night sent events into motion leading up to Aaron and Jackson's mum Hazel helping him to die – Jackson's wish.

He looked up and wiped his teary eyes as he heard a song, a very familiar song that was playing at a poignant time early in Jackson and Aaron's relationship; just say yes by Snow Patrol, it was playing while sharing a passionate kiss in Paddy's, their second kiss in fact but this lead to more intimacy between the two men and it would be something he would never ever, ever forget.Hhhhh

Chas was stood in the bar. She stood with her hands on her hips, and her gaze distant.

"You okay sis?" Cain asked as he stopped at the bar.

Chas was brought out from her thoughts and looked at him. "No, I'm flipping not actually, that kid of mine says he's leaving"

Cain sighed. "Has he not let that go yet?"

Chas shook her head quickly. "No...And I don't want him to go" she turned away as she became emotional and wiped her eyes out of view from nosy locals.

"Do you want me to have a word?" he asked.

"No...No...it's alright...I suppose we can't stop him...if he thinks he's ready then I have to let him live his own life instead of being too protective and scared to death for him, he's been through so much since he helped Jackson die and I just worry that's all"

"You have every right to." Cain replied softly as Aaron walked into the bar and out of it as quick as he appeared.

"Where you going?" Chas asked him.

"To see Adam, Paddy any others who matter"

"So you're making your rounds then?" Cain asked.

"Yeah, if that's what you wanna call it" he frowned and headed to the main door and left the pub quickly.

Aaron walked along the muddy footpath that led to a field where Adam was fixing a fence at the farm. Aaron's hands were firmly in his pockets, out of nerves he'd guessed, he hadn't really prepared for this, and he didn't even know what he was going to say to his best mate.

Adam looked up and saw him heading towards him slowly; the look on Aaron's face gave Adam a clear indication of what this was going to be. He sighed and stood up. "Not already mate!" he called to him.

Aaron looked thoughtful and nodded. "You were the first to know you'd know it'd come" he told him as he stopped and leaned against the next set of fencing beside the one Adam was fixing.

"Yeah I know but still..." he looked around feeling the emotions stirring within himself already. "I'll still see you tomorrow though yeah?" he asked.

"Yeah I'm just on my rounds as Cain put it"

Adam chuckled.

"I want to see everyone by myself first, because I know you won't wanna get mushy when everyone's seeing me off"

Adam laughed. "No chance"

Aaron smiled as Adam walked around and stood by him.

"I'll tell you something, you are one person I will never ever forget and I mean that mate, lots of memories around here for us" Adam remembered with a smile.

"Yeah like the time I tried sheering a sheep, trying to set the barn on fire and on top of that being locked in one by your dad"

Adam laughed again.

"We can laugh now eh?" Aaron smiled.

Adam nodded. "Yeah, at the time it wasn't so funny, except the sheering"

"Yeah for you maybe" Aaron frowned.

"I don't blame you for going you know, especially after everything with Jackson" Adam told him.

Aaron nodded. "It's not easy being in this place - a fresh start, that's what I need"

"But...have you thought about it properly I mean it won't matter where you go the memories, the feeling will always be there"

"I know but this village makes it worse Adam, I have to go, I need too, has my mum had words?" he glared at him, and with silence speaking volumes Aaron spoke again. "I don't believe it, why can't she just accept it?"

Adam shrugged his shoulders. "Because she's losing you Aaron, we all are, and it's going to hurt her, and yes me I'm not afraid to admit it, you're a huge part of all our lives and were just sad Aaron. We do understand why you're going it's just hard to let go"

Aaron nodded. He knew that feeling all too well. "It's not easy for me either" he smiled and looked at him. "I uh...I better go mate, I've got loads to do and I need to see Paddy"

Adam nodded. "See you tomorrow mate"

Aaron began to walk away as he spoke. "See ya" he said with his cheeky smile.

Instantly; tears ran down Adam's face as he watched his mate walk away. Aaron walked quite far away before he decided to stop him. "Aaron!" he called and he instantly stopped and turned.

"Yeah mate?" he asked as he quickly wiped his eyes, waiting as Adam quickly made his way over to him.

Almost immediately Adam's arms were tightly wrapped around Aarons. "Couldn't just let ya go like that"

Tears fell from Aarons eyes as he equally returned the hug. "Just a big softy aren't ya" he said with a laugh.

"Yeah" Adam laughed. "Love ya mate" he said before he pulled away and looked him in the eyes "Go on get out of it" he smiled warmly at him.

Aaron nodded and carried on walking off.