It's possibly the most painful part of Rachel Berry's life. Everything about this moment is wrong. It shouldn't be this way. It wasn't happy. Her final departure was meant to be joyous, filled with laughter. Her heart wasn't suppose to ache the way it was. It wasn't supposed to be ripping in two. Splitting in two. Burning. It wasn't supposed to be like this. Finn was supposed to be at her side, he was supposed to be here, holding her hand. They were supposed to ride off into the sunset, kissing, their happily ever after finally closing and their new life, the one in New York, was supposed to begin.

But instead she was alone. Walking down the aisles looking for an empty seat. She was alone. Just like she had started. It would be sophomore year all over again, only now she didn't have Glee club. In fact her entire school career would be completely different. It would be like Glee club every day but with people who were just as good, or worse, better.

Her heart raced, the one she swore hadn't existed just moments ago after being obliterated from walking away from the love of her life. From walking away from everything she knew. She was losing it all. For what? A career on Broadway? Following a fantasy? Who said she would even make it? Who said she would even be that amazing? That talented? She'd already seen plenty of others that had been just as talented, if not more, than her herself. Who's to say she wouldn't be the weakest link? She was giving everything up and she didn't even know if she would be giving it up for a reason?

The last minute panic had been enough, her body jerked up, and as she turned she pumped in to a slightly taller frame. Rachel was always one to be polite, a string of apologies were ready to leave her mouth but as she looked up into soft, warm hazel eyes, she couldn't seem to let them pass her lips. They were stock, as was her body, and she stared at Quinn, confusion wafting over her like never before. Her mouth opened and closed multiple times, but it was Quinn who was the first to speak. "This seat taken?"

"What….what are you doing here?"

The smile that spreads against Quinn's lips is shy, but she does that thing where she looks to the ground and shakes her head, as if what Rachel has just asked is the most ridiculous thing she has ever heard. "You think I would let you sit here alone? We're kind of friends, remember?" It was so simple, so ridiculously obvious and yet Rachel still didn't believe it. Quinn and her had become friends, but Quinn had Yale to get to. She had her life to start. And that's when Rachel finally notices the bag behind her.

"You're going to go to New York, just to take a two hour drive to New Haven?"

Quinn simply shrugs, sitting in the seat closest to the aisle and Rachel follows, eyes never leaving Quinn's. "We never did get to see a play before nationals last year."

Perhaps it was silly of Rachel, to cry at that. But thinking of nationals made her think of Finn, and thinking of Finn made her realize the train had started moving. She was leaving. She was leaving the love of her life behind. They agreed to it. The end of junior year they had agreed that they'd have one more year together and that would be it. But it still hurt, to not have him anymore. It hurt so much, and Rachel began to crumble before Quinn, her face contorting as the tears began to rain freely, and her arms reaching out to hug Quinn.

Rachel was crying for everything she was losing.

Quinn was crying for everything Rachel was gaining.