Prompt: Time Capsule
I'm finally moving out of Charlie's house. I'm moving to Seattle and into my own apartment. It's not just mine, as I will be sharing the 2 bedroom apartment with my friend, Angela. One of her co-workers just moved to Portland, OR, and we were able to take over the lease to the apartment. We got a great deal as a result.
I wasn't expecting this move from Forks to be so difficult. I'd gone away to college, so it's not as though this is my first time leaving. But it is the first time that my leaving will be permanent. I'm not coming back again to live here in the summer. Of course, I'll visit, but it won't really be my home anymore. It's not just leaving Charlie that has me sad, it's also leaving Forks. I had dreamed of getting out of Forks most of my life, but now that the time is here, it feels bittersweet. I've grown to appreciate the simple charm of Forks more than I ever thought I would. I like that I know everyone, I like how green everything is, I like that the beach is just a short drive away. But I'm looking forward to my new life in Seattle. I'm so excited for my new job, I'm excited to see Angela every day, I'm excited for the new people I'm going to meet.
I've already packed up my truck, so I'm just making one final check through my room. As I check in my closet, I see the box sitting on the back shelf…my "Edward Memories Box". Edward Cullen was my high school boyfriend. But he was actually more than that. He had been my best friend ever since his family moved to Forks when we were both 10 years old. Our friendship turned to dating our junior year of high school. I thought we were perfect together and would last forever. It didn't matter that we were going to different colleges - he to Dartmouth and me to University of Arizona. I knew we could survive the long distance relationship. And we did that first year with phone calls, video calls, spending the holidays at home together and even a couple of visits to each other's university. That first summer back home together, spending every day together, was magical. I was sure we could survive the remaining 3 years of college.
But after our second year of college, Edward got a summer internship in New York City and told me he wasn't coming home. He thought it was selfish to keep me tied to him, so he told me it was over. I cried, argued, and tried to convince him that it could still work out, but once Edward makes up his mind, it's almost impossible to change it. I haven't spoken to him since.
I haven't looked in that box in 5 years, so I take it out of the closet, sit on my bed one last time, and look through everything. There are so many memories in this box, it's a time capsule of our life together. I hold the pine cone from our first hike in the woods as kids, the sea glass we collected at First Beach over the years, the heart shaped card that he made for me our first Valentine's Day as a couple, and that letter he wrote me on the back of a used roll of register tape from when he worked at Newton's Sporting Goods store. He said that took him almost a week to complete. Edward was always doing special little things to let me know he was thinking of me. I don't realize I'm crying until a tear lands on my hand.
It's been 5 years since we broke up, but I know that I still love him. I've tried to forget him, but that's just not possible. Angela recently told me she ran into Edward in Seattle; he lives there now, too. We will finally be living in the same city at the same time. Finding this box at this moment is a sign, I'm sure of it.
I dial Edward's number and wait for him to pick up.
