CHAPTER 6 THE HARDEST TO FORGET

Mia walked slowly to the door of her apartment. Since Jack left, she's hated being at home. The apartment felt cold and lonely, and all she could do was think about him. Everything was a reminder of him; the statue he bought when they were on vacation in Italy, the coffee pot he used every morning. I can't do this tonight, she thought to herself.

She put her key in the lock and turned it, opening the door. She hadn't even bothered to tell the girls about how she was feeling. The loneliness had taken over her body, but she kept up a good front so no one could see her weakness. Weakness...that's what she thought this was.

Nothing in the apartment had changed since he left. He had taken enough clothes to last him a few weeks, but nothing else. The note he left laying on the counter for her that day was burned into her mind:

Mia,

I'm sorry that I hurt you, but I just can't do this. I can't be

the man you need me to be. Pack up the things you don't want

and I'll take them. You can send them to my parents' house. I

always loved you.

Jack

It's been two weeks and she had not packed anything. I guess tonight's the night then. She changed into an old t-shirt and a pair of sweats. If she was going to go on this journey, she was atleast going to be comfortable. She pulled out some boxes from the closet and set them down at the foot of the bed.

Mia didn't even know where to start. She began taking his clothes off the hangers and folding them neatly. She pulled an old college shirt out of the closet and held it up to her face. This was her favorite shirt; the shirt that most reminded her of him. The smell of Armani was permanently in the shirt. She threw the shirt up on the pillows, not ready to part with it just yet. The boxes were filling up fast and the closet looked bare and empty.

She sat down on the floor at the foot of the bed and just stared at the empty space in the closet. This was it, he was really gone. Up until this point, she had a tiny hope that he would be back. Now, seeing his clothes packed up, she knew he was gone. Her eyes began to fill up with tears, ready to fall at any moment.

She looked around the room, at the life they had built together. The pictures still hung on the walls, looking as if nothing had changed. A tear ran down her cheek, giving way to the pent up emotions inside of her. Mia lowered her head in to her hands and sobbed. She cried for the loss of Jack and for the emptiness she felt inside. Was winning worth loosing what she truly loved?

Images of their relationship ran through her mind. The year that they were together seemed like forever. Every touch, every fight, every kiss, every time they made love was as vivid then as it was when it happened. She didn't know if she could be here, in this apartment, and ever feel whole again. Somewhere, in the mist of her thoughts, she feel asleep, dreaming of a love lost.