Chapter 6: Today
Lizzie woke up the next afternoon with a splitting headache. She opened her eyes, but the piercing sun streaming through her window blinded her. Lizzie groaned. She didn't want to move. Downstairs, she heard the doorbell ring. She waited for somebody to answer the boor, but 30 seconds later, the doorbell rang again. Lizzie groaned as she got out of bed and shuffled into her slippers. This whole being home alone thing seemed to be a growing trend. Nobody could stand anybody anymore. Lizzie shuffled down the stairs in her pajamas and answered the door. Much to her surprise, Derek and Kate were there to greet her.
"Good afternoon, sleepy head," Derek said, pecking Lizzie on the cheek.
"Hey, I heard about Miranda," Kate chimed in. "I'm really sorry. I hope she'll be okay."
"Yeah," Lizzie mumbled. The three were silent. "What are you doing here?" Lizzie asked finally as she ushered them inside.
"Well, all five spots filled up so we were hoping to leave today," Derek said.
"Today?" Lizzie squeaked. "But I'm not ready. I mean I haven't packed or called my friends, or even said goodbye. I have to at least say goodbye to my brother."
"It's okay, Lizzie. Just think of all the fun to come. After we're at Lamb of God, you'll hardly even remember the life you once had here," Derek said.
"And with how our lives are shaping up here, that doesn't seem like such a bad thing," Kate added.
"We can still come back and visit, right?" Lizzie asked.
Derek laughed light heartedly, and took Lizzie's hand for reassurance. "I promise that once you get there, you won't even want to come back."
His hand sent tingles throughout Lizzie's entire body. Suddenly she felt safe, confident, and ready for the next step. "So what do I need to do to be ready to leave tonight?" she asked.
Derek's eyes lit up. "Well, in Luke chapter five, Jesus tells his soon to be disciples to drop everything and follow him."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when you get to Lamb of God, you won't need anything, so all you need is yourself."
"You mean I have to leave like everything here? Like I can't even bring a picture of me and my brother or my friends?"
"Don't worry, Lizzie. When you get there, you won't want memories of your old life anyways."
Lizzie wasn't so sure she agreed, but she nodded her head. "If you don't mind, I would like to spend a few minutes by myself in my room. You know, just to say goodbye and all."
Lizzie looked around at her bed, her desk, and her chair. She had no idea what was in store for her after she left all of this.
"Okay," Derek called up the stairs after about ten minutes. "Let's hit the road."
Now she really had nothing except for the clothes on her back and two pictures she snuck before the rest was confiscated. One was of her and Matt with their arms slung over each other's shoulders, smiling goofily at Matt's sweet 16 party. The other was of Lizzie, Miranda, and Gordo hugging each other on graduation day. Lizzie didn't even know why she saved that one.
"Hold on," Lizzie said as she jogged down the stairs into the ever so familier foyer. She ran into the kitchen, grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and scribbled a note to her family.
Dear Mom, Dad, and Matt,
I'm sorry to leave you without saying goodbye, but don't worry, you will always be in my heart. I'm writing this note because I'm going with a friend I met recently and Kate to a new home in the East. I miss you already, and I would like to thank you for the last 20 years of my life.
Love, Lizzie
PS: Matt, I wish you and Malina the best.
With the blink of an eye, Lizzie was gone. The only thing Hildredge had of hers was the last 20 years of her life.
