"He told me he loved me and simultaneously in that moment he ruined me. Somehow it didn't matter that it was for the mission because I couldn't get the moment out of my head then and I still can't now. I remember the almost whisper of him saying that Slade took the wrong woman and the vague smell of leather and sweat surrounding me as he stepped closer. I remember the way my breath hitched and butterflies flew around in my stomach as I shivered with anticipation. He leaned in towards me and said those three words that I never thought I would hear from Oliver Queen and then I knew. I've been told before "I love you" from guys I've dated, especially by that one lacrosse player, but this was different because I was not in a relationship with him yet somehow those three words made me want to be. Oliver Queen told me he loved me and I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time. I felt hope. With those three simple words all of the walls I had built up to protect myself from Oliver's charm and obvious attraction came crashing down. And then as if fate was playing a cruel joke on me I felt him place the syringe of the cure in my hand and I was back into reality. I shielded the hurt I was feeling and promised myself I would address it later when I got home with a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream and an episode of Doctor Who. I played the role Oliver needed me to play and then he was gone. The fantasy world I had been living in took one syringe to come crashing down around me and I realized that in the real world Oliver would never be in love with me. Sure he would love me as a friend or as a confidant, he would love me because of my computer skills but he would never be in love with me. He was doing the unthinkable in order to get Slade and I respected him for it but part of me hated him for making me realize what I had been subconsciously hiding from myself. That one-second before he slipped the syringe in my hand, I allowed myself to believe. Those three damn words were my undoing and now they are all I think about. Even after the trip to the island where he told me that we were both great actors essentially saying that we were each playing a part and that he didn't mean it, part of me believes he did. At night I lay awake in bed thinking about the look he had in his eyes and wondering if he was telling the truth. Oliver is awful at lying in general but he is especially worse when it comes to me making up things about coffee shops being in bad neighborhoods and sports drinks being in syringes. Either way, with those three damn words, he had opened my heart and my eyes. I love him. I am in love with him. Dammit. I was never one to care about boys but Oliver's not a boy, he's a man and he's all I think about now, which is not good. I close my eyes to dream and I am thrust back into the moment when I found him in the back of my car and am forced to relieve every moment we've ever had. I spend hours analyzing conversations and small touches and I want to scream at myself for becoming this girl. I need a break from him. I need to step away for a little and reevaluate the life I am leading. I'm proud that I have become more than the boring I.T. girl and I'm even more proud of the work I've done for Team Arrow that's saved lives but right now I am empty. I'm leaving town for a bit, actually I'm running away from my problems, but it shouldn't be a problem. With all the time Laurel is spending down here along with Roy I've managed to teach them the basics of what I do and if anything major pops up I wrote programs for them to use and I'm a phone call away. Digg, I need this so if you can try not to call. The only reason I am leaving you with this message is because I know you'll understand, you may not like it but you'll understand. I love you and am so happy that you are finally getting everything you in life that you and Lyla deserve. I'll be staying in Gotham indefinitely with Richard Grayson. Don't worry about me I'll be back before you know it. Be safe."
Felicity's video message suddenly disappeared from the computer screen and Dig let out an exhausted sigh. Oliver had promised when he dragged her into this that she wasn't going to get hurt but somehow she inadvertently had been and there's nothing he could do. What the hell was he going to tell Oliver, he questioned out loud silently hoping that he would get an answer from the empty foundry.
"You don't have to tell me anything Digg." Oliver responded as he fell from the top level of the` salmon ladder onto the mat and watched as Diggle internally cursed as he swiveled around in Felicity's chair to face him.
"I heard everything. And who the hell is Richard Grayson?"