AUTHORS NOTE: this is the final chapter in this season! It's a long one, so get comfy! The song at the end is Amy Studt's 'nothing I can do'- it's a really good song, and if you can, please listen to it!

Thankyou for all the reviews- complaints and compliments alike- I appreciate them all! Thankyou to all who read this fanfiction, thankyou to all who call me a good writer (you give me a seriously big head!) and just generally thanks for sticking with me for this very long story that I never intended to get over 80 chapters! Thankyou!

The last two weeks had been a nightmare. Grace had to be dragged out of the house by Jessie and Katie, who were becoming more and more concerned by her depressed behaviour, every day.

Jessie had gone to her first session with a Dr. Meltro, last Friday. According to Jessie, she sat there, for an entire hour, keeping a tight lip. The Dr. tried, with all his training, to get something………anything……..out of her, but she refused to so much as blink!

Eli had been working late every night, going over ideas and plans with Jake and Judy. And when he came home, the family had usually already eaten dinner- and Grace had slunk away to her room- out of sight, which made Eli miserable, because he was dying to talk to her. And he had done so, on many occasions………tried to talk to her……..but every time she was very civil and distant. She preferred not to talk about their relationship, or 'them' at all……….truth be told, she was slowly trying to rid herself of Eli……..trying to pry him out of her system……..and to do that, she had to ignore him………had to get used to how the next year would be without him………

Eventually Eli got the idea, and decided to stop trying so hard. He figured when his departure time came closer, she'd soften up and come around to her senses. She had to………Eli couldn't imagine parting on bad terms with Grace………he just couldn't.

So, Eli had been spending more time at his mother's. She asked to have him over more often, before he left. Which was fine with Eli, who couldn't stand Grace's cold shoulder day in and day out………

But somehow those three weeks had slipped by so quickly……..and before anyone knew it……..Eli had only 3 days left………only 3 days before he was going out on his own……….three days for him to make things right with Grace………..


"I'm so sick of mum!" Jessie hissed, throwing her bag onto the backseat as she and Eli slid into their father's car.

"Ease up, Jess," he murmured, waving at his mother and Henry as they stood on the porch- watching the car drive off.

"If she asked me one more time how my session went………" Jessie murmured harshly under her breath.

"You didn't tell me," Eli suddenly said, looking at his sister out of the corner of his eye.

"What?" she asked, frustrated.

"You didn't tell me about mum's idea to send you to a psychiatrist again" he murmured, concentrating on the road.

Jessie fidgeted in her seat, "it was none of you're business" she replied, softly.

He scoffed at her response, "Jess! You're my sister! You should have told me………"

"Oh why? So you and mum could gang up on me and insist that I go because it'd be for the best? To straighten out this little lesbian phase I'm going through?" she didn't mean to yell, or sound so bitter, but she was still angry at her mother……..and now Eli had to bring it up……….

He turned to her for a moment, a half angry half sad expression darkening his face; "what are you on about?" he asked, coldly.

"Oh please Eli! Don't act as though having a lesbian sister doesn't freak you out completely!" she hissed, crossing her arms over her chest.

He turned back to the road, his brow creased in deep thought; "how long have you felt this way?" he asked, after a sea of silence.

Jessie fidgeted again, and stared out the window; "I dunno……since my party…….."

"So, for the last 3 months, you've thought I was against you? That I was disowning you because you're a lesbian?" he asked, slowly.

Jessie fell silent, and Eli had his answer- he turned to her, but she refused to look at him.

"That's it!" he suddenly snapped. He steered the car towards the kerb, parking it and taking the key out.

"Eli, what are you doing?" Jessie yelled, turning to him.

"Do you honestly think I would love you any less?" he asked, ignoring her bitterness, unbuckling his seat belt and turning to her.

"Start the car, Eli! It's been a long night and I want to go home!" she said, sternly, crossing her arms again and sitting back in the seat.

"No, Jess! You tell me right now, do you think I would ever love you any less for being a………" before he could finish, Jessie turned to him and yelled, "Yes!" her brow creased and her eyes furious.

The car fell silent………a thick silence that reverberated through the dark night. "Oh Jess!" Eli murmured, shaking his head slowly.

She felt hot tears running down her cheeks; "It's just that…….." her voice was calm now, "it's just that since I first told everyone……..you haven't been the same with me……you've been cautious and remote…….."

"It was a shock, I have to admit," he said, quietly.

Jessie turned to him, "but Eli! You are my brother…….. I thought I could turn to you when everyone else was against me………instead you just became cold and I could tell the idea just……..freaked you out and made you feel uncomfortable………."

They stared at each other for the longest time then- Jessie's tears streaming down her cheeks, Eli's lips pursed as he finally heard the truth from his sister.

"Jess…….." he finally murmured.

"Save it, Eli!" she said sternly, turning away from him and staring at the quiet road ahead of them- "don't say your sorry or anything………just don't………..because I don't want to hear it!" she said again, "I just really want to go home!"

What was he supposed to say? All that she'd said……..well……..some of it was true. Finding out his sister's secret was a shock. But it didn't mean he loved her any less. If anything he had a higher regard for her. Thought she was the bravest person he'd ever met.

"Ok, Jess" was all he murmured, and he turned the car key and pulled out onto the road again- completing the drive home, in silence.


Eli pulled into the driveway, turning the ignition off- both he and Jessie made no attempts to get out of the car; they simply sat in silence for a moment.

"I………..I know that you love me" Jessie whispered, not turning to look at her brother.

Eli nodded once, "good………because I would hate for us to be on bad terms or anything,………" he murmured.

Jessie nodded, and then turned to look at Eli; "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the psychiatrist………I wanted to………I really wanted to talk with you about it…..…..but"

"You thought I would be a jerk…….." he murmured, turning to her.

She gave a half smile and shrugged, "something like that"

"I am sorry Jess, that you ever thought I wasn't proud of you………that I thought differently of you because of who you are………"

She nodded again; "your proud of me?" she asked, in a small voice.

Eli nodded, "oh yeah! I mean……….you were able to do what I still cant!"

"What's that?"

"Show our parents who you really are………not caring what they think or what they'll say……….."

A tear escaped Eli's eye and rolled down his cheek; "your like my hero………" he added, with a laugh.

Jessie giggled aswell, and threw him a playful punch in the arm; swiping away fresh tears she smiled, "super Jess………" she murmured.

"Can leap tall buildings in a single bound and stand up to her parents,………" he murmured, laughing.

They sat there for a few minutes, just laughing, when finally Jessie spoke up again; "seeming as this is a night of reconciliation………." She murmured, "don't you think its high time you and Grace had a talk?"

Eli scoffed, "about what? The subject of 'us' is the last thing she ever feels like discussing!"

"She loves you Eli!" Jessie said sternly, "don't leave without her knowing that……….or you'll regret it for the rest of you're life………"

He gave a small nod, "even if I tell her that, it's not going to change the fact that I am leaving in three days time………and our relationship will still be……….unfinished"

Jessie reached over, laying a hand on her brother's shoulder; "that may be so……….but if you plan on letting her go, letting you're relationship go……….then you have to do it properly………don't leave any loose ends or harsh words in the air..……..let her know what she meant to you…….."

They sat in silence for another moment, "and maybe she'll stop being so stubborn and let you know how much you meant to her aswell" Jessie added, and unbuckled her seat belt, opened the car door and slid out.


"What time is you're flight tomorrow night?" Lily asked as she poured some orange juice for herself.

"Midnight"

"Oh, lovely!" she said, sarcastically, bringing the glass to her lips.

Eli nodded solemnly, "This is my last night in this house" he murmured, sipping his coffee.

Just then Grace breezed into the kitchen, "in this state!" she added, walking to the fridge.

Eli nodded and watched as she took out a bottle of water. Today was the last chance he had to talk to her, to smooth things over.

"I need to go to the mall today, mum" Grace announced, putting the water back.

"Why?" Lily asked, clearly unenthused with the idea of being Grace's chauffer today.

Grace shrugged, "Need to buy some things……..." she murmured, looking to the ground.

"I'll take you!" Eli piped up, and Grace shot him a stern glare.

"I was going over to my mums anyway…..…..to pick up some clothes I left there………" he added, trying to cover his enthusiasm with an excuse.

"Oh……..I………I don't want to be any trouble" Grace mumbled.

"No trouble!" Eli smiled, downing the last of his coffee and standing up; "are you ready to go now?" he asked, walking to the sink.

Grace carefully took a few steps away from him as he approached her; "actually, I could probably hold off on going to the mall for a day or two" she murmured, avoiding his eyes.

"Don't be silly, Grace! Eli's offering!" Lily exclaimed.

"Yeah!" he smiled, "I'm offering"


The car was dead silent- apart from the whooshing of cars that drove by. And it was uncomfortable, an uncomfortable, forced silence that pressed against both Eli and Grace's lips.

She looked at him from the corner of her eye; his strong hands grasped the steering wheel, his green eyes looked out at the freeway ahead of them, his hair blew across his brow slightly as a slither of wind poured in through the slightly opened car window.

He turned to her and she quickly averted her eyes out her window- studying the red Hyundai that whizzed past them- but he'd caught her gaze, and a small smile crossed his lips.

"So……..what are we buying at the mall……..?" he asked.

Grace said nothing.

"Do you want to go to my mum's first, then?" he asked, filling in her silence.

She sneered at him, exhaling a bitter breath- she turned to him, her eyes narrowed; "so talk!" she said through clenched teeth.

"That's what I'm…….." he began, but she interrupted him.

"I mean about us!" she spat back.

"Oh! Now you wanna talk about us?"

"No! Not really………actually that's the last topic I feel like discussing………but you obviously insisted upon driving me to the mall today, purely so we could have a nice little chat along the way……..to cleanse you're soul or something………so talk………don't beat around the bush………just talk!" she snapped, and looked out her window again.

"Cleanse my soul?" he repeated.

Grace nodded, "yeah! You don't want to go away feeling guilty about breaking my little heart………so you want me to forgive and forget so you can go away with a clear head…..…..thinking you left everything ok!"

"I know that when I leave tomorrow night, not everything will be ok!" he replied, a little bitterly.

"Well so long as you know that!" she spat back, crossing her arms over her chest.

"But miracles can happen!………" he said, trying to lighten the conversation.

"Unlikely!" Grace exclaimed "very unlikely!" and she pursed her lips.


Eli looked up, waving to Grace who was heading towards the small café- she'd insisted on doing her shopping by herself, and agreed to meet up with Eli an hour or so later- at this café.

She spotted him, and walked in his direction.

"What did you buy?" he asked, motioning for her to sit down.

But she didn't, she stayed standing, her lips pursed; "I don't feel like coffee or anything………..can we just go now?" she asked, bitterly.

Eli sighed, but stood none the less, moving his face close to Grace's, she flinched slightly- afraid that he would kiss her, afraid that she wouldn't stop him; "don't you ever get tired of hating me for being sorry?" he whispered, and walked away.

Grace turned, and watched him walk away- she ran, trying to catch up to him. Eventually she did, and had to quicken her pace to stay walking beside him.

"Are we going to you're mum's now?" she asked quietly, as they headed towards the car park.

Eli shook his head, but didn't look at her.

"But I thought……….." Grace stammered.

Eli stopped walking, as did Grace, he turned to her; "I just said that so I could take you out………so I could have one more chance at trying to make things right!" he said, and started walking again.

Grace looked after him, watching as he opened the car door; and then she moved towards the car, opening her door and sluggishly sliding in. she buckled herself in and sat quietly for a while as Eli pulled out of the car spot and onto the freeway again.

"I don't hate you," she finally whispered.

"Sure seems like it!" he hissed back.

Grace shrunk down slightly, and pursed her lips.

"Which really hurts cause………" he stopped himself from saying more, narrowing his eyes and concentrating on the road.

"Because why?" Grace urged.

"Because I still………I still love you………that's why!" he replied sternly.

Grace bit her bottom lip.

GRACE have you ever loved somebody?

ELI have you ever loved somebody?

GRACE even though you shouldn't……..even though you know its wrong and your just going to end up getting hurt!

ELI even though the other person feels absolutely nothing for you?

GRACE I have

ELI believe me!………I have!

"Oh" was all Grace could whisper.

Eli looked at her, from the corner of his eye. And suddenly, he remembered the strangest thing. The night they made love, Eli remembered looking down at Grace as she laid beneath him- he remembered looking down and seeing her close her eyes for a moment, and biting her lip as though she was concentrating so hard. It was a strange thing to remember, but it came to him just then, and he had to crack a small smile.

"Yeah……….'oh'………." he replied.

"Your leaving tomorrow night" Grace suddenly whispered.

Eli gave a small nod, "I know"

"To Philadelphia"

"Yes"

"I may never see you again"

Eli turned to her, his brow creased; "we're family, Grace……..of course you'll see me again!"

"I don't think I can," she said, turning from him.

"What? What does that mean?"

"It means maybe it would hurt too much to see you on the holidays and long weekends……..knowing what we had………knowing what we gave away……..what you gave away………"

"Your saying that once I leave you never want to see me again?"

She stayed quiet, and Eli scoffed at her sudden idea.

"Well I cant do that!"?

"Why not?"

"Because that would be completely cutting you off! Forever……..never seeing you again!"

"You made the decision to do that when you took the job in Philadelphia!"

"No! I made the decision to become something! Not to say goodbye to you forever!"

"Maybe you did………you just didn't realize" she was blubbering now; she could feel hot tears running down her cold cheeks.

Eli turned to her, gripped the steering wheel harder, he turned to her with soft eyes; "you're asking me to say goodbye?" he whispered, "you're asking me, that when I leave in two days………to never see you again? To leave you behind forever?" he asked, slowly and cautiously.

She turned to him, her brooding, sullen eyes wet from tears and saddened from their talk; she said nothing, only nodded once.

Eli turned to the road again, and then back to Grace. He couldn't drive amidst this talk. So, like he did last night with Jessie, he pulled over, and pulled the key out- turning to Grace, his eyes pleading; "I………I cant do that!" he said, sternly.

Grace swiped at tears, "I'm asking you to!" she said, her voice shaky.

Eli swallowed back his own tears; but no matter how hard he tried to blink them away, his eyes still watered; "how………how can you ask me to do that after I just told you……..just now……..that I still love you?" he asked, with a quivering tone.

Grace bit her bottom lip, and looked anywhere but into his eyes; his crying eyes.

"Look at me!" he suddenly exclaimed, and she did, with her sad eyes she looked into his; "because maybe when you said that you still love me……..something inside of me doubted whether or not I still love you………"

Eli exhaled a small breath, he ran a shaky hand through his hair and felt tears escape; "but I do…….. I really do………" he whispered, more to himself.

He looked up again, into her face, her beautiful face; "I really do still love you!"

Grace reached her hand out, and rested it against his cheek; his face leaning into her touch; "I know………" she whispered.

GRACE have you ever loved somebody so much?

They sat there for the longest time, until eventually Eli collected himself, and pulled out onto the freeway again. Grace looking out the window, Eli's mind racing- they'd said all they need to say. And while some of the words weren't true, they had still been said……….and they had still hurt……..oh how they hurt.

GRACE have you ever loved somebody so much? But lied about it………to let them go……..?


"Jess?" Eli called out, as he walked her stairs slowly.

"Up here!" Jessie replied, sitting up from where she laid on her bed.

Eli emerged at the top of the staircase, his eyes seemed hollowed out, and were as clear as glass.

Jessie was about to ask what was wrong, when Eli slowly crouched down, until he was sitting on the floor- he made a deep sigh, and felt tears escape down his cheeks again.

Jessie ran to his side, kneeling down beside him and wrapping her arms around his shoulders, "shush!" she said softly.

"It hurts so much!" he whispered.

Jessie didn't ask what he meant……..she knew……….and she wished she could take some of his pain away.


'I did it. I really did it. I let him go.' Grace wrote the words with a shaky hand into her diary, 'maybe now he can have a fresh start. That's what he wanted, isn't it? To make something of himself? Well now he can………knowing that he has no obligation to me. No obligation to keep loving me' she sighed and closed her diary, stuffing it back into her drawer.

She sat for a moment, and then reached back over, yanking her diary out and flipping to the entry she'd just written.

'I hope deep down he knows……..that I didn't mean it………' she added, and closed her diary again.


The day went by so slowly. It stretched out and seemed to go on forever. Or maybe it just seemed that way because of the thick anxiety and sadness that hung in the air.

Well, for whatever reason, the day creeped by and it seemed to take an entire decade before the sky was painted black.

Eli had been at his mother's the entire day, with Jessie. Karen wanted her two babies with her for as long as possible, before she had to let one of them go. But Rick insisted that Eli spend his last night in his house………Rick also insisted that he drive Eli to the airport at midnight.

Grace had stayed in her room for most of the day, preparing her own little farewell for Eli. And when she heard Rick's car pull into the driveway, she quickly added the final touches, and stuffed it into her drawer.

Lily emerged from the kitchen to greet the three of them; "just in time!" she beamed, "I just finished you're last meal…….." she said, her voice blubbering.

Rick sighed, "come here, Lil," he said, opening his arms.

Lily hugged Rick, but continued to cry, "I'm sorry, Eli!" she said, trying to bring herself together, "I'm just going to miss you so much!" she added, and wriggled out of Rick's arms and into Eli's- who awkwardly hugged her back.

"There, there………" he said, confused.

Lily pulled away, and dried her eyes; "get washed up for dinner before I break down again!" she ordered, and scurried into the kitchen, Rick following behind her.

Eli turned to Jessie and rolled his eyes-, which she laughed at; "emotions are running high tonight!" Jessie commented, and Eli smiled.

Ten minutes later the whole family was sitting around the dinner table- tucking into their last family meal.

"Are you excited?" Zoe asked Eli, who was sitting next to her.

"Definitely!" he replied, smiling.

"And a little scared?" Rick asked his son.

Eli looked up and shrugged, "I guess" he replied, vaguely.

"Oh! You're going to make a great manager, Eli!" Lily beamed.

"Yeah……..a great manager!" Grace added, smiling. Eli looked up, their eyes meeting for an intense second, "thankyou" he murmured, and looked down at his plate.

Jessie looked from Eli to Grace, and back again. Biting her lip.

JESSIE emotions are running high………


Sitting in the living room later that night, Lily was crying, Jessie had a tear in her eye and Grace was trying hard to suppress her own emotions.

"So this is it………Eli's leaving us tonight…….." Rick said, his voice unstable.

Jessie reached over and grabbed her brothers hand, squeezing it tight; "but not forever!" she added, and Eli laughed, shaking his head; "no! I'll be back……..for holidays and long weekends and birthdays………"

He turned to Grace, who quickly looked away.

Rick smiled, "but still………we are saying goodbye to a member of this family tonight!"

Lily burst into tears again; Eli rolled his eyes.

"Good luck son! I am proud of you! Like you wouldn't believe!" A tear slithered down Rick's cheek.

Eli got up from where he sat, and hugged his father- a brief, casual hug, and then released him.

"Now, you better get off to bed! You're getting up at 11:00 tonight!" Rick cautioned, swiping at tears.

Eli nodded, feeling his own throat tighten, "I just want you all to know that, I love you all." Eli began, a little embarrassed, "and I'm lucky to call you all my family"- and with that, Lily launched into a fit of fresh tears.

Grace let a single tear escape; she wiped it away quickly and stared up at Eli as he said his last goodbyes.

"We weren't the most functional of families at the beginning……..but we have come a long way………and we are all lucky to have each other!" he murmured, and before he had a chance to start blubbering, Jessie leapt up and bear hugged him; "I hate you for making me cry!" she laughed through tears.

Eli hugged her back. He was really saying goodbye. To his home. His family. Her……….Grace……..looking so beautiful tonight. But he wished she would cry; shed a single tear that showed she cared.


He sat at the edge of his bed, scanning his practically bare room.

He was leaving in two hours, but had been unable to sleep, when a tap came at his door.

He stayed still, making no attempt to get up and answer it- when the door slowly opened, and Grace appeared. It was dark, the only light coming from the moon outside. But he could still see her face. Her angelic, soft face.

"Can I come in?" she asked.

Eli murmured a yes, and she closed the door behind her.

He was shirtless, only in his boxers, but she didn't mind. She moved towards him, and stood infront of him, a wrapped, square, present in her hand.

"This………this is for you…….." she murmured, handing it to him.

He looked at it, and then up at her- taking it, he unwrapped the present slowly. It was a picture frame, and inside was the picture of him and Grace, slow dancing, at Jessie's party.

"Where……..who…….." Eli tried.

"Jessie showed it to me and I stole the negative from my mum" Grace murmured.

"What………" Eli stammered.

"Mum took it at Jessie's party, when she was a bit tipsy"

"Oh"

They said nothing for the longest time as Eli stared down at the picture. Grace looked so beautiful; her eyes were closed as she swayed in Eli's arms. They looked good together. A very handsome couple, some would say.

"It's my way of saying goodbye!" Grace mumbled, both she and Eli were surprised to hear a strain in her voice.

He looked up at her, but couldn't quite see her face. So he leaned over and flicked his light on. Her eyes were puffy and red, her hair stringy and falling down her shoulders. She'd been crying for a good while now.

Grace brought a hand to her face, trying to shield her red eyes.

Eli put down the picture, laying it on his night table. He looked up at Grace, his green eyes examining her sad face.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out. So, instead, he slowly leaned his head against Grace's stomach, and held his hands against her hips.

She looked down at him, as his head rested against her. And with shaky hands, she ran her fingers gently through his hair.

He closed his eyes, breathing in her scent. Lavender and vanilla.

Slowly, he pulled his head away, and looked up at her. "Can we be together?" he whispered, so quietly.

Grace bit her bottom lip and felt more tears escape.

"Just for tonight?" he pleaded.

Grace said nothing, only lowered down, and kissed his lips- softly and lightly. Pulling away she gave a small nod, and reached for his hands, pulling him to his feet.

They slowly crept up the stairs, and into Grace's room. She led him to her bed, where they both lay, facing one another, holding each other tightly.

"Love me?" she whispered, connecting with his lips again.

"Are you sure?" he asked as she pulled away.

Grace released him, and sat up. She pulled her tank top off over her head, revealing her breasts. She looked down at him and nodded.

He sat up aswell, and kissed her neck, then her chest- and then wrapped his arms around her, pulling him into her. They kissed, softly and cautiously, and then harder and deeper.

Grace lay back down, and looked up at Eli as he was ontop of her. "I love you!" he whispered, and then slipped inside of her.

It didn't hurt this time. It was a sensation. A beautiful ecstasy, and Grace had to bite her bottom lip to stop from screaming out.

Their bodies connected in the most beautiful way. And it was perfect.

When it was over, she rested her head against Eli's chest, and eventually closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.

He stroked her hair, "I'll always love you," he whispered.

And when 10:30 came around, he carefully slid out of her bed. And walked to her dresser, where he found a piece of paper and a pen. He scribbled something down quickly, and then placed it against her bedside lamp, and crept out of her room.


At 11:00 Rick opened his sons door, to find Eli already up and dressed- suitcases already packed and lying on his bed. He had one small backpack to take onboard with him. In it, was Grace's present.

"Lets go" Rick said, his voice straining.


"Can passengers on flight 876 to Philadelphia please get ready to board!"

"That's me," Eli said, turning to his father.

Rick nodded and looked down at his feet.

"I guess this is it……..that pivotal moment where I have to let my son go!" Rick said, his voice quivering.

Eli nodded, feeling his own throat strain.

"Dad?" he said, and Rick looked up, with glassy eyes.

"I don't want any big goodbye that's going to make me get all emotional………" he started, and Rick laughed.

"All I really want to hear is that you're proud of me………" Eli ended, and felt himself choking up.

Rick gave a small smile; "always! No matter what!" Rick beamed, and took Eli in his arms. This was a strong hug, a long, warm hug that lasted just long enough for a tear to escape both Eli and Rick's eyes.


Grace rolled over, stretching her arms out to the side of the bed Eli had been lying on. When she felt only the sheets, she sat up, and looked around the room. Daylight had come through her windows.

She looked across at her bedside table, where a small letter was propped up against her lamp- it read 'Grace', in Eli's hand writing.

She gave a sad smile, and picked it up- unfolding it with a shaky hand, it read;

Dear Grace,

I'm sorry we didn't get to wake up in the morning together- in each other's arms.

And I'm sorry that I'm leaving. I'm sorry for what I did. I'm sorry for what I said, and didn't say. I guess I'm sorry for a lot of things. I'm also scared of a lot of things.

Like the thought of you waking up in the morning, and regretting what we did last night. I'm scared of you regretting the last 2 months. I'm scared that you didn't hear what I said last night………so I'll write it down for you………. I love you……….always have, and I can guarantee that I always will! You know what else I'm scared of? As I write this, your still sleeping, and I'm looking at you, you look so beautiful. And as I look at you, I'm thinking how scared I am to walk out of this room and never feel the rest of my life the way I feel when I'm with you!

But I have to, I have to walk out of this room, board a plane, and walk out of you're life……….forever………because that's what you want.

I love you Grace Manning.
Always have, and always will

-Eli Sammler.

She let out a cry, and hugged herself tight as tears ran down her cheeks. He was really gone………

GRACE and it hurts so much!


Eli looked out the window of the plane, they were in the air now- clouds and blue sky as far as the eye could see.

He wondered if Grace was awake yet. If she'd read his letter. He wondered if she loved him……..and he was sure that she did……….she didn't say it, but there was something in her touch last night……..something that whispered those words 'I love you'……….without her actually having to say them.

He bent down and picked his bag up from under his seat, opening it, he pulled out the picture she'd given him. He studied it, her soft face, her closed eyes………they looked so good together.

Eli felt the back of the frame was loose. He turned it over, and, sure enough, one of the hooks wasn't done up. He opened the back of the frame, and found that there was writing on the back of the picture.

I still love you. Goodbye

A small smile crossed his lips, and his eyes watered again.

He knew it.

ELI (smiling as he looks down at the frame in his hand) I knew it (whispers).

But still………the goodbye was there………they had their closure, atleast. No matter how much it hurt to say that word, 'goodbye', at least they'd said it, atleast that had parted on better terms.

There's nothing I can do

I can't help loving you

There's nothing I could say

If I can't make you stay

I can't let you see the sorrow in my heart

My baby

I'll have to let you go

Without your smile I know so well

I'm just an empty shell

Make sure to keep in touch

I value it so much

There's so much I would like to say to you

But I will just have to let you go

There's so much I would like to say to you

my baby

I'll have to let you go.