Ben took a deep breath and entered his father's study.
"Hey dad." Ben said, as he walked in.
"Hey Ben." Leo said, looking up from the pile of papers on his desk.
"I've made a decision." Ben said, taking a seat.
"What have you decided?" Leo asked.
"I want to go to Italy." Ben said.
"Benjamin.." Leo started.
"I know you think I'm making a mistake but I'm not. I just need a break from seeing everything I screwed up, the things I don't get to remember. I have done everything I could to keep everyone happy, but for the first time, I want to do something for me, please let me." Ben said, interrupting Leo.
"I've been doing some thinking. I'm going to call your uncle in Italy and I'm going to call your school. I'll give you a plane ticket and you'll have mike. You can change your mind till the last minute and I promise to be okay with whatever you decide." Leo said.
"You mean it?" Ben asked.
"Yeah, if this is what helps you, then it's my job to make it happen for you." Leo said.
"Thanks dad, I don't know what I'd do without you." Ben said smiling.
"You're welcome Ben, there's nothing I wouldn't do for you." Leo said, smiling.
Ben now felt at peace, he'd spoken to Leo and Amy, it was finally real, he was going to Italy. He hadn't been sure about whether or not he'd be able to do this but as the days had gone by, he'd become more sure that this was what was best for him and everyone else.
Ben spent the weekend packing and spending time with Henry and Alice. They'd insisted on dropping him at the airport, along with Leo. They were going to pick him up from his house. Ben knew he'd taken everything he needed but just one thing was still left for him to do.
He picked up his phone and hit number 4 on his speed dial.
"Hello?" Amy said on the other end.
"Hi Amy." Ben said.
"Where are you Ben?" Amy asked.
"I'm about to leave for the airport." Ben said.
"Come on Ben, don't go." Amy said.
"I have to Amy." Ben said.
"You don't." Amy said.
"I do, that's why I didn't tell you I was leaving because I knew it would too damn hard. But I just had to hear your voice once before I left." Ben said.
"I really wish you weren't going." Amy said starting to cry.
"Me too, but I have to. I need you to know that even though I may not remember, you fixed me Amy Juergens. I don't need to remember to know why I loved you, why I still do. You deserve everything you want and more. I hope you and Ricky have an amazing life together and who knows, maybe in another life, you and I could have everything we thought we would." Ben said chocking up.
"Thank you Ben, for saving me. I don't know what I'd do without you. Yeah, in another life." Amy said.
Ben was about to hang up, when Amy said," And Ben?"
"Yeah." Ben said, wiping his tears.
"You're worth way more than you realize. You're an amazing guy and no matter what happens, I don't ever want you forget that. I know I wont." Amy said.
"Thanks. Goodbye Amy." Ben said.
"Goodbye Ben." Amy said. Once she hung up, she couldn't control her tears anymore. It was just all too much. She was overcome with a sense of grief because for the first time, it felt like Ben was really gone.
Ben just sat on his bed for a while, looking around his room and committing it to memory ; hoping at one day he'd come back, with the heart to make new memories, a heart without any pain.
Alice, Henry and Leo came to pick Ben up. Once they were all seated in the car, Mike asked, "Where to?"
Alice, Leo and Henry looked at Ben expectantly, hoping against hope he would say school, but Ben said," the airport."
Alice and Henry tried lifting Ben's spirits, talking about all the times they'd spent together, the times even Ben remembered.
Once they'd reached the airport, Alice, Henry and Leo started crying as the thought of Ben leaving finally started sinking in for them.
"Are you sure, you want to do this?" Alice asked.
"Yeah." Ben said, taking his bags out of the car.
"Because you don't have to, we can find a way to make everything okay here." Alice said.
"Alice is right, we can make everything just the way it used to be, you don't have to go." Henry said.
"I don't want things to be the way they used to be, I want something different, something better. I know you don't understand why I have to do this but I just do. I want you guys to know that, I love you guys and I'd be absolutely lost without you two and no matter what happens and where I may go, you'll always be my best friends." Ben said.
"We love you too." Henry and Alice said, giving Ben a hug.
Alice and Henry moved aside to give Ben and Leo a moment after they'd said their goodbyes.
"Thanks dad." Ben said, hugging Leo.
"For what?" Leo asked.
"For letting me do this, even though this is really hard for you. You've saved me so many times, even before the accident and I've never even said thank you." Ben said with tears in his eyes.
"You don't have to. I love you Benjamin." Leo said pulling away.
"I love you too dad." Ben said.
He said one final bye to everyone and then Ben was off. He was starting life over with a feeling of pain and of optimism. His life at Valley Gen would always be a part of him and so would the people in his life but it was time for him to explore a new part of himself, a part that was just for him.