Can You Make It Easier

Can You Make It Easier

Chapter 4: "Come Away, Come Away"

June 15, 2003

The parking lot was hot under the summer sun—June, Val decided, was no picnic when there hadn't been any rain for three days, there was a heat wave going around the county, and the local swimming pool was being pumped. She had had it easy, because Tyler's country club had a swimming pool and he invited her over whenever she wanted, but still… Speaking of Tyler, he had wanted to meet her here—but where was he?

Val sat down on a bench situated in a garden in a park at the edge of the parking lot and looked around, waiting. They would be celebrating their two year and two month anniversary next week. They hadn't been able to celebrate their two year or two year and one month anniversaries properly since Tyler had gone on a student exchange for six weeks, but now it was June and they could actually celebrate. Both thought it was a nice achievement, considering that two years was half of their high school life and they had no intention of ending their relationship. Val had chosen University of Illinois over UCLA, since Tyler wanted to major in computer science and technology at UI… even if UI didn't have a strong medical program at all. Val still hadn't decided completely—she could go to Michigan and still be close to him.

Maybe I should talk to him about that today, she said to herself. I mean, I'm already delayed in giving them my answer.

"Hey."

She hadn't even noticed him come up behind her, and she jumped, but didn't turn—Val knew his voice.

"You startled me," she said unnecessarily as he sat down next to her.

"Sorry I'm late," apologized Tyler, "there was a jam up by Ninth."

"It's okay," responded Val, kissing him and leaning into his chest. "You weren't too late."

"Good." He let his arm fall around her shoulder as he breathed in the flowers and sunshine. "It's so gorgeous out."

Val's eyes sparked merrily and she laughed. Tyler immediately looked at her and tensed slightly.

"What'd I do?"

"Nothing." Val stopped giggling, with apparent difficulty. "You just sounded… strange."

"And that's an excuse to laugh at me?" By this time Tyler's eyes were laughing as well. "Some girlfriend you are!"

"Oh, come on," Val said, "you know you love me."

"Yeah. I do." Tyler kissed her, and once their lips had parted they stayed like that for a moment, letting thoughts take over silently.

"What did you want to tell me?" Val inquired, shattering the quiet.

"You first." Tyler could sense she had something to say, and that it was important. Val took a deep breath.

"Well, I'm sending in letters to my colleges tomorrow and I want to make sure I get a chance to talk to you first."

"Where are you going?" Tyler questioned, knowing he couldn't take it for a given she was going to UI. "Have you decided?"

"That's the issue," Val replied. "I haven't decided between UI or Michigan or UCLA."

"UCLA is far away," commented Tyler. "But it does have a great medical department."

"Yes." Val didn't know if she could discuss this without some reaction from either herself, Tyler, or both of them. It was a sensitive subject—in different colleges and states, they might grow further apart than they thought they could. "But you are going to UI. Michigan is close to UI, and UI is even closer to you."

Tyler sighed and leaned more into the back of the bench. A piece of wood, but it was absorbing his emotions like a sponge.

"Look, Val, you know UI doesn't have a good medical department. Maybe—you shouldn't go there."

The hurt in her eyes was obvious—he hadn't chosen his words well.

"You don't want me to go to UI with you?" she asked softly, her voice a whisper etched with pain and disbelief.

"No! I want you to go! But… maybe it's not what you want."

"How do you know exactly what I want?" Val asked. Tyler winced. She hadn't chosen her words carefully, either.

"No, Val—look, all I'm saying is, we're in high school. Next year, college. We're growing up, and we can't help it. I don't want to force you to make decisions that you have to make. I don't want to be a burden, and… I want you to be your own person. So… maybe we have to think a little. About what we really, really want."

Val inhaled sharply.

"Is this goodbye?" she asked, eyes questioning.

"No!" Tyler was insistent—how was he supposed to lose Val over something that hadn't even been meant that way?

"Thanks for ending it now—it's better than later, when I actually might have died of heartbreak." Val's throat forced out the words. No, she didn't want to have it now than later! She wanted to enjoy it while she could.

"But, Val, I don't want to—"

"Guess that it's too late, huh?" The words were bitter, and her look of hurt made it all the more painful. Tyler tried to figure out what was in her eyes, and what she wanted. "Look, Tyler, I don't want to be a burden either. So goodbye." She stood from the bench… and Tyler could to nothing but watch as she took steps away from him and away from all he was trying to tell her, away as she broke his heart and as he broke hers.

Away.

Why it so hard to walk away?

Why do I have to cry?

Why did I fall in love with you;

Why do I have to die?

Fly away, fly away

But why are you flying?

Come away, come away

But how did I hurt you?

Walk away, walk away,

Do you obey my every call?

When I left, did you fall?

Did you fall?

And so five long years had passed. Val had cried that night, and Tyler's face had also been stained with tears. Five long years… Val went to UCLA, Tyler went to UI and moved to San Francisco to start Connell Cellular. Val was top of her class and was an assistant doctor-in-training at the local hospital.

And until a psychology major by the name of Melissa Daniels interrupted, neither of them were completely happy…

Are your wings gone?

Did you fly in the night?

Some say I'm wrong—

Are they really that right?

Should I start my life—

Only to die?

I want to ask so many questions—

And I want to know why

Fly away, fly away

But why are you flying?

Come away, come away

But how did I hurt you?

Walk away, walk away,

Do you obey my every call?

When I left, did you fall?

Did you fall?

Hmm, maybe I should have titled it 'Did You Fall?' instead, but hey, the song was spontaneous combustion of my mind. No, it doesn't rhyme, but I was visiting my school for next year today and they were discussing poetry—so I started thinking about free verse and voila, a song. Oh well. Hope you enjoyed reading!

~Ivy Leaves

PS – Thanks everyone who reviewed For The Gold for telling me age didn't matter. I'm honored you think I'm a good writer, and Darkchilde, about third person omnipresent—I have no idea where I learned that. Maybe the free poetry book I got after going to state for my poetry in a writing contest. (Okay, that was a shameless fishing for compliments.) For a while I just called it 'third person with lots of characters,' so it's not THAT great that I know it. Bye!