Summary: Isabel says her final goodbye to Jesse. Prequel to Returning Home, Last Connections, Five Years. Can stand alone.

Disclaimer: Not mine. SO not mine

Spoilers: S1, S2, S3. Post-Graduation

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Isabel couldn't believe what she had just done. After almost four years of marriage, she had taken off her ring. Her finger felt bare without it. But this was a part of the new Isabel.

The new Isabel couldn't have any ties to Roswell. Not after everything they'd been through.

Only three years ago, to the day, she'd been sitting in the hall at school watching her brother and friends about to graduate.

Then it happened.

The lights went out.

Max went to the podium and started to talk.

That was their que that it was time. Time to leave Roswell for good.

She turned to her parents, and said her last goodbye.

Goodbye, I love you.

Then she rushed off to join the others.

Kyle, Liz, Maria.

They raced out to the car to run. Leaving Max behind. But Michael came roaring in on his bike.

"Run!" he yelled to them.

The four had stood stricken as he rode into the school building. Then jumped in the car to go to their meeting place.

Moments after they got there, Michael and Max joined them, safe. And then Jesse had shown up. With a van.

He insisted on going with them, but Isabel had turned him down. He had placed her wedding ring back on her finger.

And then kissed her.

But then it had been time to go. Time to run for their lives. And now, she had taken the ring off.

She looked at the papers before her, and went through, signing each part that needed her signature.

When she was done, she placed them into the package, that she was going to send.

Isabel knew it was foolish to be sending anything back to Roswell, anything that could be traced back to them. But she had chosen to send it the last night that they were in this town.

She took the pen in her hand, and began to write the hardest letter she'd ever written.

Jesse.

I love you, but this isn't going to work out.

I'm running, for my life. And the sooner I cut off all ties, the better.

This includes to you.

Me being who I am could put you in danger, and I don't want that. I don't want you to be hurt because of who I am.

So I'm setting you free.

Maybe one day, when I can stop running, when the world is safe again, when I can feel safe again, we can try again. We could make it work. But for now it's better this way.

I love you.

Isabel

It was most definitely the hardest thing, besides actually leaving him, that she'd ever had to do. And for a moment, she regretted it.

But she also knew that it was the right thing to do. And that she should have done it before. She folded the letter, and placed it inside the envelope with the papers.

Then she took one last look at her wedding ring. She raised it to her lips, closing her eyes. Then lightly kissed it.

A single tear slid down her cheek.

She was cutting off all ties to Roswell now. She dropped the ring in the envelope, and then sealed it. Then she stood, holding the envelope, and walked out of the small motel room.

Isabel entered the small shop that said "Post Shop/ Dairy/ Petrol Station", brought a stamp, and then put it in the box.

As she slid it into the box, a deep sense of loss, and relief, hit her. She knew now that Jesse was gone forever, yet at the same time it was a relief.

She could now move on. Jesse could now move. Neither would be stuck in limbo any longer.

And Jesse would be safe.

Isabel smiled sadly, then, with her long blonde hair swinging, set off to join the other five to their next destination.

Fin

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Thanks to ParkerEvanss for all the reviews! (((hug)))