A/N: I apologize for how slowly I update. This chapter is quite short, but I think it should leave you satisfied. I hope.

Thank you for your patience!

Wednesday morning at five o'clock as the day begins.

Silently turning her bedroom door;

Leaving the note that she hoped would say more.

She goes down the stairs to her kitchen, clutching her handkerchief.

Quietly turning the backdoor key, stepping outside she is free.

She is leaving home.

She Is Leaving Home – The Beatles (Sgt. Peppers)

It was dark outside when Howl awoke.

No, that couldn't possibly be.

Then he realized the curtains were merely closed.

Howl rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, trying to wipe the fatigue from his face. He stretched, curling his toes and cracking his back like a cat would do. He could feel his hangover linger from the previous night. He could hardy recall any of the events from a few hours ago. He didn't even know how he had ended up in his bed in the first place, and that almost frightened him. But he knew that Sophie must have helped him here, because she had left a glass of water for him on the side table.

He stood up groggily and tugged the curtains open, revealing the midday sun. He was blinded for a brief moment before his eyes readjusted to the light. He let out a long yawn and blinked away the tears that followed. The young wizard walked towards his dresser and caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror. As much as he admired his undeniable good looks, he was horrified at his current appearance. He had dark circles under his blue eyes, his jaw had developed some stubble, and his hair was tousled. He saw something pink sticking out of his blonde locks. It was a feather.

"What the hell did I do last night?" he asked himself, plucking it from his head.

Well whatever it was, he thought, it must've been entertaining.

Howl blindly made his way to the kitchen wearing the same clothes he'd gone to bed in. He noticed that on the wooden table there were no plates and utensils set out. Had he missed lunch? He wondered to himself, noting that Sophie always joined him for every meal; at least, every meal that he was home for. He looked out the window and saw it was probably past noon, because the streets were filled with pedestrians doing their daily browsing or grocery shopping. Howl began to fix a meal for himself, while trying to ignore his headache. Once again, he wondered where Sophie was.

"Sophie," he called over his shoulder, and waited for her reply. But the young girl did not call back. He called again, his voice louder and more concerned than before.

Perhaps she was out running errands. She always went out during the middle of the week to buy vegetables, books, or fabric. Suddenly Howl remembered that Sophie had asked him to buy her some the other day for her. He decided to check her room, in case she merely had her nose in a book. He often found that she liked to tune him out that way, by escaping into her magical world of words. The floorboards creaked harshly as he walked towards Sophie's room.

"Sophie," he called as he climbed the stairs. He stopped at the door and knocked quietly. "Have you eaten already? I was hoping I could make us some-" he stopped mid sentence as he opened the door.

Most of the drawers were half opened, revealing that their contents had been taken out. The bed had been made. Its crisp sheets were folded neatly at the foot of the bed. All of Sophie's possessions had disappeared from her side table, except for a piece of parchment and a few drops of ink that had dried and permanently dyed itself into the wood. The only sound came from the breeze that the open window let in. Howl walked slowly to the table. He picked up the paper and his eyes glazed over it. He was not able to read it. He could only absorb a few phrases. He saw the words 'anger', 'regret', 'sorry', 'leaving', 'alone', 'apologize'.

Howl could not string the words together. He could not understand what Sophie was trying to say. He read the final sentence seven times before it sunk in.

I cannot continue to be with you, but even though I will never forget you, I want you to forget about me. Best of luck, Sophie.

He let the paper fall to the ground silently.

He sat on the edge of the bed, crinkling the sheets. Sophie had left him.