After having dressed and packed his bags, Roger went to meet with Holly in her room. It was almost time to leave.
He found her sitting at the foot of the bed, looking absent-mindedly toward the ocean. Closed suitcases were spread at her feet.
"You're going back to him, aren't you?" he said as soon as their eyes met.
She swallowed back a sob. "Yes."
"I see."
"Do you, really? You're asking too much of me, Roger."
He went to sit by her side and took her hand. "How is loving each other too much?"
"I have a good thing going on with Ross. Things have been great lately and I don't want to lose that for something as uncertain as a relationship with you."
"It wouldn't be like before," Roger said fervently.
"Oh, I know, but still. You and I are always going to be more...explosive as a couple, let's put it that way."
Roger grabbed his hair and shook his head. "I wish I could make you as sure as I am that it would work. I wish I could just touch you and impart you my certainty. We're meant to be, Holly," he said pleadingly.
"How can you expect me to make a decision now? A week ago you and I barely talked, and now you want me to leave Ross without at least giving him a chance?"
"Well, you can't very well see us both at the same time, Hol. You HAVE to make a decision now."
"Then it's going to be him, Roger. I'm sorry."
She got up but he followed her, refusing to let go of her hand. "Roger, you promised that you wouldn't fight me on this. You said that you wouldn't try to stop me if I chose to go back to Ross. Please don't make it harder than it already is."
Her words made him stop in his tracks. He HAD made her a promise. He just never thought that he would have to keep it.
So this is what it feels like to lose, he thought as he let her fingers slip away from his.
"We're going miss the plane of we don't leave now," Holly said quietly.
"Go ahead. I'm not leaving."
Holly opened her eyes in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"I won't go on that plane with you as a friend, or whatever we are now. I think I'll stay here a little longer and…figure out what do with my life."
Holly took a step in his direction but he turned away. "You don't have to say anything, Holly. I know how you feel."
He walked out to the terrace and stayed there for a very long time after he had heard the door close behind her. She was gone. For good.
He glanced at his watch. It was 11AM.
Holly sat in her seat near the window and tried not to look at the empty one beside her. Since leaving the hotel, she had almost gone back twice.
Would she regret this? She wondered as the plane took off. Would her heart skip a beat before saying "I do" to someone else?
Had it been too late for her and Roger, or too soon?
Alright, just one chapter left and then this story will come to an end!