Chapter 18

We all ended up having a great Christmas dinner, and my mom and dad had gone to bed. Rita and I were in our pajamas and were drinking hot coco on the couch by the fire. "I had a great time with your family… I really appreciate you having me over," Rita smiled as she cuddled into me. "I wouldn't have it any other way," I replied with a kiss on her forehead. "So what do you usually do after dinner on Christmas?" Rita asked, I started to blush a little, "nothing really," I stuttered. "Oh come on tell me," Rita looked at me in the eyes with her cute innocent look and I just had to give in. "There is this book that I would read every year with my parents… It's a Christmas book though," I replied. "Well why don't you read it to me?" Rita asked with a smile, "You really want to read it? Even if it is about Christmas?" I questioned. "Yeah… I mean since I have met you… those wounds have healed a bit and… the last two Christmases I have spent with you… well I think that this may be the start of a new tradition and I… I want to always spend it with you because… you have brought the magic back to me," Rita blushed as she turned to look away. I grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a kiss, "I promise that every year from now on we will spend together like this, just the two of us… and maybe someday one more…" I blushed as I turned to look away this time. Rita just held my hand and rested her head on my shoulder. I knew that it was her way of saying yes after all I felt her hand tighten around mine, and I then began to read the story.

A few months had passed and we were on our last month of school. Rita and I had been very busy deciding on where to go for University and things have become a little awkward. I want to go to a University in Tokyo but I wasn't sure about Rita, I still had no clue on what she had in mind. My biggest fear was that she was planning to move back to Canada. I know she wants to be a teacher but I wish she would talk to me more about it. Problem is every time I try to talk to her about it she makes up some kind of excuse and takes off, I know she is hiding something but I don't know what. So it looks like it has come to this I need to talk to Mimi and find out what Rita was hiding. Later that night I called Mimi up to talk about what has been going on with Rita. "Hey Izzy do you want me to get Rita for you?" Mimi asked, "no actually I need to talk to you…" I replied. "What's going on Izzy? You sound upset," "I just need help… it's about Rita." "Ah I had a feeling, let me guess Rita has been avoiding you lately when you bring up University." "Yes that's it! What do you know?" I asked franticly, "well you see… Rita's mom wants her to return to Canada for University but Rita wants to stay here, she wants to stay with you but her mom… well she just is guilt tripping her into returning." Mimi explained as I tried to speak but instead started to cry. "Oh Izzy it will be okay you know Rita as well as I do and she would never do anything to jeopardize the relationship between the two of you. "I know I just… I know how Rita is with her mom; she doesn't want to hurt her even at the cost of her own feelings." I replied, "yes that is true but also remember she wouldn't want to hurt you either, she loves you remember that. We will just have to see how things play out for the next while." Mimi attempted to reassure me though I knew inside that something was going to go terribly wrong.

A few weeks had passed and it was time for us to take the entrance exams for the University of our choice, however I noticed that Rita never showed up. "Where is she?" I asked Mimi as she then gave me a look I had feared; she shook her head in a way of saying that Rita wasn't coming… this could only mean one thing… she was moving back to Canada. I couldn't believe it, why wouldn't she tell me? As the tests were being handed out I could barely focus though I knew this test was the biggest in my life so far. I had managed to get through the test and I believe that I did well, on the other hand though I had to find Rita and make her explain what she had been hiding for so long. I had followed Mimi back to her place and then opened the door to Rita's room; she turned to face me as tears streamed down her face. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry Izzy," she continued to cry as she collapsed to the ground. "So… you are going to head back to Canada then?" I asked with the fear of knowing what she was going to say. "Yes…" She cried as she wrapped her arms around herself. "What about us, what does this mean Rita, do you want us to break up?" I too started to cry, "no of course not… I am only going for a year then I promise I will come back," Rita spoke as she walked up closer to me. "Will you wait for me?" She asked with the fear of not knowing what I would say in reply. "Of course… I may not like it but I promised we would be together forever so a year isn't too long to wait," I replied as I pulled her in my arms as she continued to cry for the next few hours.

It was just about time for Rita to head back to Canada, everyone had been quite somber since hearing the news of her moving. Everyone and I mean everyone had come up to me asking if I was okay and if our relationship would still continue. Of course I informed them that it would only be a year, a tough year at that, but we can still always phone and write each other through email. I kept trying to convince myself that things would be okay but they weren't. Rita the love of my life would be on the other side of the world for a whole year and not once will I be able to see her because both of our classes would take up all of our time. I continued to sigh as we arrived at the airport, Mimi, Tai and myself had gone to see her off as well as my parents who drove us. "Good luck in University Rita," my mom smiled trying to cover the fact she was going to burst into tears at any moment now. "Make sure to keep in contact," Tai added as he pulled Rita into a tight hug. "I will miss you so much Rita, but I know it's not forever," Mimi cried as she held Rita so tight I swear she couldn't breathe. "See you next time," I smiled as tears streamed down her face. "I love you… I love you so much Izzy never forget that!" She bawled as I held her tight in my arms. "Always," I whispered to her as she then set off, it would be hard but I know when I see her one year today our relationship will be just that much stronger!