“Be sure to read the note I left in your lunch. I wrote it special for you,”

he said.

“I will,”

I promised.

“And Essie?”

“Yeah?”

“Never forget how much you mean to me. Nothing in the whole world could ever make me stop loving you,”

he whispered.

After another hug, I departed.

As I looked behind me, he was still standing there, his eyes filled with tears.
He blew me a kiss and I smiled a sad smile.
I had to be brave.
I had to do it for him.
For me.
For us.