Good afternoon! :) I know you must be wondering where the hell I've been. :( It's been a few months since I last updated this story and I feel a little bit embarrassed because of it. I guess you're not even interested in this story anymore for obvious reasons. I mean, I suppose you don't even remember what this was about. I have no explanations for my absence. I just wasn't feeling the inspiration that pushes me to turn the computer and start typing. Besides, I've been really busy and I didn't feel like writing when I got home from work. However, I didn't want to leave the story unfinished, so here I am again. Anyway, here's the update. I hope you like it and I'd love to hear from you, just say anything you want, I love reading your reviews. Have a nice week you all! ;)

PD: Last chapter Emily met her mom and they had a really nice talk. She even apologized for not accepting her daughter and it looked like they were in a good path. Paige and Emily were finally dating and they both were working at Paige's dad's architectural firm. His dad accepted the relationship, but he preferred if nobody knew at the office to avoid people thinking Emily was working there just because she is Paige's girlfriend. Alison was back at New York City and Emily was feeling a little bit jealous because of Alison and Paige's past. They didn't have a relationship because Paige wasn't out back then, but Alison was clearly in love with her. At the end of the chapter, a five year jump happens and Emily is in a totally different place, Paige is not there. You will know what happened if you keep reading. And if you don't remember anything at all, you should read last chapter so you don't feel totally lost. :)

PD2: I didn't have time to proofread. Sorry, guys. ;)

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE

: Chapter 35 – Five Years Is A Long Time:

Five years is a really long time. And it feels even longer if you completely change your life. If you live in the same city, have the same friends and the same job, five years can go really quickly. When your life has no major changes, five years is practically nothing. However, when you go live to the other side of world, it's like time stopped and you are a completely different person. This is the way I'm feeling right now. I left New York City five years ago and I feel lost. I have had a purpose for this time, but now that I'm back, even if it's for a few days, I am starting to feel nervous. It's like I don't belong there and I don't belong here either. I've never felt so unstable ever and it sucks. It's like I have no control in my life, and I hate it. I've always been the person that's been in control and had everything planned. But I can't see that person inside me anymore.

Everything started with that fight. I didn't think that fight would lead me to come here. I chose to come to Africa, another continent, a totally different life. That day turned my life. However, I knew that day was coming a few weeks earlier than it happened. It wasn't a fast decision though. That thought had crossed my mind but I didn't think I was going to be brave enough to act on it. I did, though. That's why I'm here right now. Nobody understood this bold move. All my friends and family thought I was having a life crisis and this was completely insane. Paige was the most critical after I told her what I was planning to do. She told me I was being childish and that hurt me after everything that happened between us. I don't actually know why I did this. I know Paige was one of the main reasons of my departure, but I was feeling empty and I guess that's why I ended up here. Everything was going really well between us. However, things at the office where becoming unbearable. Her dad didn't want us to come out in front of our workmates to avoid spreading a bad atmosphere. Dating the boss' daughter is not the best thing one can make if she wants to be treated with respect. Even though I had showed I was a hard-working person and everybody loved me, the minute they realized Paige and I were a pairing, they would start hating me. People are like that, it's human nature. I understood his dad's point of view back then, but it was really hard to handle. I mean, I've never been the cheesy girlfriend that can't keep her hands off her girl, but Paige's behavior changed from that moment. I didn't have to touch her, she got all nervous every time I talked to her when we were at work. She became very distant and avoided to work with me, even though she knew we had to work together to advance the project we were working on. Every time I looked at her or smiled at her she kept telling me that we were at work and that I needed to handle the situation professionally. I started feeling really bad. Things didn't improve when we were not working. It was like she didn't make an effort to separate work and social life. She was becoming an stranger to me and it hurt like hell. I remember that time when we finally decided to have the conversation. I went to her place and we had dinner, but I knew that night would be crucial for the both of us. I was losing my patience and I needed to make her understand things had to change in order to keep our relationship alive. The moment she opened the door and saw her frowning I knew things weren't going to end well. I still don't understand why she was behaving like that. Was she falling out of love for me? After she came out to her dad everything looked so good and everything changed suddenly. I entered the apartment and I gave her a chaste kiss, but she didn't move at all. We had dinner practically without saying any word, but I broke the silence trying to explain everything that I had been thinking about in order to save our relationship. I remember that conversation like it happened yesterday.

"What is going on, Paige? I'm worried about you… and us," I insist, trying to make her speak about her weird behavior towards me.

"I told you I wanted to keep the distance when we're at work, that's all." She avoids my gaze and I see she's suffering just by looking at her brown eyes.

"Don't lie to me, please. Everything was perfect and suddenly you started to avoid me. Did I do something wrong?" She sighs.

"I just told you what's going on. Don't dramatize." I nod my head and she looks at me.

"So you're going to pretend everything is okay between us? Very mature of you, Paige," I exclaim, hurt invading my whole body.

"I'm just stressed out, that's all." She says those words without even looking at me.

"Then tell me what bothers you," I add affectionately. I take her hand and she shuns my contact, hiding her hand and making me feel awful. "Okay, great. I came here to try to solve our problems but I guess you don't want to. I will leave you alone, it seems like you want me to leave." I stand up and I look angry at her. I grab my purse and look at her again, she's speechless. She seems sad, but she doesn't do anything to make it right. "If working together is the problem, then I'm going to quit the job tomorrow. I just wanted to tell you that, but you don't want to talk to me, so that's my decision. Bye." And just like that I left her place and things got even worse. The next day I did what I had been considering for the past few weeks. Her dad didn't take it very well but didn't say a bad word about my decision. She supported, wished me good luck and told me that I was invited to have dinner with them anytime I wanted to. I wasn't so sure that was going to happen given the last conversation that I had with his daughter, but she didn't have to know that. He was really happy that I was dating his daughter and I didn't want to disappoint him for the second time that day.

The next weeks were really weird. I woke up every day and had nowhere to go. That was a good feeling at the beginning. I just could do anything; go running, watch TV, read… I started looking for a new job, but after a few months with no success, I was starting to get desperate. Things with Paige were better after I quit my job, but there was something odd with her. I could feel it, she still was distant with me and that was starting to bother me. I know she wasn't happy I took that decision, but apart from that she wasn't the old Paige that couldn't keep her hands off me and always had that huge smile on her face. The relationship continued to deteriorate every day. In addition to my disastrous love life, I was hopeless about getting a new job and that was affecting negatively to my mood. I went to a few work interviews, but it didn't turn very well and I was starting to feel useless. A phone call from an old classmate changed everything. I remember it was a rainy Monday, I was still in bed and the phone started ringing. I didn't recognize the phone number. It was Mike, the boy that used to sit next to me almost every class at college. At first I thought he was a really weird guy, but it turned out he was just a shy boy with no friends. We soon became friends and even though he was not a very sociable guy. I always found him studying at the library, but never in a pub or café. He didn't go out, but we ended up being good friends and called each other from time to time. Last time I talked to him he was working for a NGO that provided basic construction knowledge and education in third world countries so they could learn how to build houses with the materials they had in their regions. He used to spend long periods of time in different countries helping them and I always had admired him for doing such an altruistic work. When he told me if I was unemployed and if I wanted to live a true experience I instantly knew what he was talking about. I was speechless for a few seconds. There was so much to think about and I didn't see it coming. I told him that I had to think about it and that I would call him back once I had made the decision. At first I thought it was crazy, but then I realized that I was feeling bad because I couldn't find a job and that this was a huge opportunity to help clear my mind and help others. Besides, it was only a six month project and maybe being away from Paige would help us understand that we needed each other. Things were bad between us and a break could help improve the situation. I knew she wouldn't take it very well, but I knew it would be worth it for the both of us in the long run. If I stayed and continued living my void life with a girlfriend that was practically a stranger I would end up going crazy. That life was consuming me and going away to live that enriching experience was the only thing that gave a sense to my sad life. I needed a break from everything, so that's way I ended up here. When I told Paige she got really angry. She called me coward for running away. That hurt me a lot, because she wasn't even trying to make things better before Mike's call. She had given up and she was now judging me because I wanted a change in my life. I insisted that I would be back in six months, but she was so angry that she said the words that made me realize that I should keep Mike's steps. I still remember those words and I feel sadness all over my body. "IF YOU LEAVE, I WON'T BE WAITING FOR YOU". An ultimatum, that was the only thing that she came up with after I told her that we needed space and that she was the love of my life. She left and I didn't see her again even if I tried to contact her. I kept calling her and I also went to her place a few times, but she didn't open the door. I felt betrayed. A few weeks after I left the country and I felt like something had died inside of me, I was a different person. I had to forget her if I wanted to be happy. She wasn't worth it all the suffering I had dealt with the last year. The first days were like hell, but the satisfaction of the job I was doing gave me made me realize I had to forget her and focus on the huge experience I was living. Richard helped me a lot too. I'm glad I met him, I was lucky. Over time, I started to feel better. After six months, when the project finally ended and I was confronted with the need to make a decision, I didn't doubt it for a moment. Richard was going to continue with the job in another country where we were needed, so I went with him. After another six countries we visited, five years had gone by and I hadn't even visited my family and friends. That was wrong, but I was so focused on my job and going back home made me nervous somehow. Anyway, after five years, the moment had come and I was having dinner with Richard. It was time to face my fears and go back, even if I hadn't decided what I was going to do with my life next.

"Are you nervous?" the smiling man asks, making me even more nervous.

"What do you think, jerk?" I answer. He bursts into laughter.

"I'm sure they missed you, Em. Just enjoy, don't overthink it." I grin at him.

"What about you?" I ask, wondering what he's going to do next.

"I will stay here for a few days and go back home. I don't know what I will do with my life either. I guess I will have to find a job and have a normal life. I'm exhausted, I need a break."

I understand him. I've been next to him the last five years, but he has been working with NGOs for the last seven years. He lost his mother after a long and excruciating battle with cancer and leaving the country and helping others was his escape.

"I guess we will make a decision once we are back and analyze our situation. I'm a little bit scared." He hugs me and it feels great.

"Everything is going to be fine, Em."

The moment I enter the hospital room and I see her I realize coming back was totally worth it. She starts crying and I go hug her.

"I missed you! I didn't know you were coming. I mean, I knew you were coming back, but not this exact day." I wipe the tears from Hanna's face.

"I'm so happy to see you. How are you feeling?"

"I'm so happy…" She starts crying again.

"I hope those are happy tears. Otherwise I will have to take a plane and leave for another five years." She smiles at me and gets a tissue to clean her face.

When Caleb enters the room and sees me he looks impressed.

"What the hell?" I start laughing and he comes running to hug me. "Is it really you?" He looks at me and I grin at him. "You're so thin." I nod at him. "I'm so happy to see you."

"I'm happy to see you too." I look at him and I see her sister's same smile. That gives me goosebumps.

"So, where is the baby? I came to meet her."

"Are you really saying that I had to bring a child into this world in order to make you come visit?" I can't help but laugh.

"I'm eager to meet the little girl."

"I guess your wish will come true." Caleb looks at the door and a blonde nurse enters the room with a huge smile on her face.

"We checked her and everything is good." Caleb takes her in his hands and his happy face when she looks at her daughter makes me happy as well. He will be a good parent, I know that.

He approaches me and I hold her in my hands. She's beautiful. The feeling of having her on my hands is indescribable, I haven't felt so good in a long time. Her breathing is so calm that makes all my nerves go away. All that peace that I'm feeling disappears when the room door opens again. I raise my head and I see her eyes are fixated on me. My heart stops for a moment. After five long years Paige is standing right in front of me. She doesn't say a word, she just stares at me still in shock. She's gorgeous, I would even say she's hotter and prettier than ever. The old feelings are back, it's like time didn't go by.

"Hey." That's the only word that comes out of her mouth. She obviously wasn't expecting me.

To get things even worse, another person enters the room and breaks the silence making the situation even more awkward.

"I've been calling you, honey. Did you forget the phone again?" Alison kisses Paige and then looks at me like she's seen a ghost. I think this is too much to handle for the first day back in the city.

To be continued…

Stay tuned! ;)