Goodbye

Alison's heart pounded as she watched Riley struggling to sit up, his hands trembling as he reached to remove the oxygen mask. Without a second thought, she rushed forward, wrapping her arms tightly around him. "You're awake," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Thank goodness, you're really awake."

Riley nodded weakly, his face pale but his eyes full of life. Alison felt the tears she'd been holding back begin to flow freely down her cheeks. These were tears of relief, of gratitude, tears she hadn't allowed herself to shed until now. "I thought I lost you," she choked out, her grip on him tightening.

"I'm not going anywhere," Riley whispered, his voice soft but steady as he gently patted her hair. The simple, reassuring gesture melted her remaining resolve, making her realize just how close she had come to losing him.

She finally released him, wiping the tears from her face. Trying to regain some composure, she half-scolded him, "Promise me you won't ever scare me like that again."

Riley smiled weakly, his energy clearly drained but his spirit unbroken. "I promise."

From behind, Kaira stepped forward, her presence a comfort amid the emotional whirlwind. "I'm happy you're okay, Riley," she said, her tone light but tinged with lingering fear. "You scared the hell out of us."

Riley managed a faint smile as he looked at her. "I knew Alison could handle it," he replied, his voice full of admiration. "She's strong and never gives up."

Alison tried to smile back, but the unease gnawing at her wouldn't let go. The joy of Riley's recovery was bittersweet, overshadowed by the reality she would soon have to face. She turned to Kaira, who gave her a look that said she understood all too well.

Riley's voice, gentle yet probing, cut through the moment. "Alison," he began, staring at her with a knowing look, "I overheard your conversation with Kaira about needing to go somewhere. If I may ask, where are you planning to go? And why?"

Alison felt her blood run cold. This was the moment she had dreaded, the moment she would have to tell Riley something—anything—that wouldn't break his heart. But how could she explain the truth? How could she tell him she had to leave to protect him, that she had made a deal she couldn't back out of? Her mind raced, but all her thoughts tangled together, leaving her struggling for words.

"Did you hear me?" Riley's calm voice pulled her from her chaotic thoughts.

She looked up, meeting his gaze, her heart pounding. "Well... I have a new job," she stammered, trying to keep her voice steady.

Riley's face lit up with a brief, genuine smile. "You have a new job? That's wonderful news!"

"But it requires me to go to Miami... full-time," she added quickly, regretting the words the moment they left her lips. The joy in his eyes faded, replaced by a look of pain that made her wish she could take it all back.

"You can't be serious," he murmured, his voice laced with disbelief.

"I am," she replied softly, her tone apologetic, but firm.

"What kind of job?" Riley's voice was more insistent now, demanding an explanation.

Alison hesitated, her mind scrambling for something plausible. "I'll be working as the personal assistant to the CEO of a very influential company," she managed to say. "Isn't that nice?"

Riley fell silent, his eyes searching hers, trying to understand. His silence only made Alison more anxious. She could almost feel him trying to figure out if she was telling the truth. Desperate to end the moment, she added quickly, "It's really quite complicated."

He finally nodded, but his eyes were still clouded with doubt. "Okay."

Kaira nudged Alison, her expression urging her to continue. Alison glanced at her, feeling a wave of unease. Riley noticed and immediately picked up on the tension. "Is there something wrong?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

Alison hesitated, her heart racing. "There's something else," she began, her voice barely a whisper.

Riley remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"I'm leaving for Miami today," she confessed, each word feeling like a heavy stone in her mouth.

Riley's face fell. "You're joking... right?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.

Alison couldn't bring herself to answer. She kept her gaze down, fiddling nervously with the hem of her dress. The silence stretched on, and Riley's expression shifted from disbelief to hurt as he realized she was serious.

He struggled to sit up, his voice shaking. "You can't go," he pleaded, his words faltering as he tried to make sense of it all.

Alison stayed silent, unable to meet his eyes. She had no choice—she had signed the contract, and there was no turning back. "Don't worry," she started, trying to sound reassuring. "Your needs will be taken care of while I'm away. I'll make sure of that—"

"Didn't you hear me?" Riley cut her off, raising his voice slightly. "I said you can't go."

"I have to," she replied, her voice trembling with the weight of her decision.

"No, you don't. We'll find you another job. You don't have to take this one," he insisted, his voice growing more desperate. "Tell them you're unable to come to Miami. Surely they'll understand."

"That's not how this works," she said, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice.

"Don't do this to me. You're the only one I have left," he said, his voice breaking, exposing the raw vulnerability he had been trying to hide.

Alison felt her heart tearing apart at his words. She took his hands in hers, her own trembling. "I'm doing this for you," she said, her voice shaking with emotion. "Please, just let me. Besides, you said you wanted me to do something to keep my mind off the painful memories. That's what I'm doing."

Riley stared at her, his eyes searching hers for something—anything—that would make him understand. He knew she was right, but that knowledge didn't ease the pain. Finally, he sighed, his voice soft and defeated. "You'll be back for the holidays, right?"

Alison hesitated, knowing the answer was uncertain at best. But she nodded, forcing the words out. "Y-yes, I will." The lie tasted bitter, but she couldn't bear to say anything that would make him feel worse.

"Then I suppose I can't stop you from doing what you want to do," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Alison breathed a sigh of relief, though her heart was heavy with guilt. "Thank you, Riley," she whispered, leaning in to hug him again. "I love you so much. You're the best. I promise to keep in touch with you every day."

He hugged her back, his arms weak but comforting. "I love you too," he whispered, his voice tinged with sadness.

She glanced at her watch. Her two hours were already over, and her heart sank. The time she had spent with him felt like mere moments, and now she had to leave. The thought of abandoning him filled her with deep sadness, but she tried not to show it. She released him and stood up, her voice steady as she spoke. "I must go. My flight leaves in 30 minutes. I wish I could stay longer."

Riley nodded, though his eyes were filled with pain. "It's okay. Now go show them who's boss."

"Technically..." she began, only to be interrupted by both Riley and Kaira.

"It's an expression!" they said together, making Alison chuckle despite the situation.

She gave Riley one final hug before turning to Kaira. "Take care of him for me," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.

"You mean I should take care of her instead," Riley quipped, trying to lighten the mood.

"Haha, very funny," Kaira replied dryly before softening her tone. "Don't worry. I'll take good care of him."

They hugged tightly, the weight of their separation pressing down on them. Alison allowed her tears to flow freely, the reality of her departure finally sinking in. "I'll miss you," she whispered.

"I'll miss you more," Kaira replied, her voice thick with emotion.

Alison let go, wiping her tears. She took one final glance at Riley and waved goodbye, before walking out the door, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she might not see him again for a long time.

As she stepped outside the hospital, the night air hit her like a cold slap. The sky was completely dark, the moon barely visible behind thick clouds. The world around her was eerily quiet, the only sound her own footsteps echoing in the stillness. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering as the cold bit into her skin. In her hurry, she had thrown on a pair of blue shorts and a black sleeveless top, and now she regretted not taking the time to dress more warmly.

She glanced at her watch. It was past 10 p.m., and her time was officially up. As if on cue, a sleek black Lamborghini rolled into view, its windows tinted so dark that she couldn't see who was inside. She took a step back, her heart pounding as uncertainty gripped her. The rear door opened, and she caught a glimpse of a formally dressed man behind the wheel. He motioned for her to get in.

For a brief moment, Alison considered turning back, running away from it all but she knew she couldn't, she had already signed the contract and they had already fulfilled their end of the deal, so she had to play her part as well. Without giving it much thought, she clutched her suitcase tightly and got into the car, the door shut immediately and the car began to drive away from the hospital. She glanced around, noticing the interior was a lot larger and it was warm and cozy, she leaned back into the chair, listening to the steady rhythm of the car speeding through the streets. she couldn't help but wonder how Riley was going to get by without her but the thought that his future was secured calmed her a bit. She relaxed into the seat and let her mind drift far away. It was all she could do to take her mind away from the endless questions swarming her head, she closed her eyes and tried not to think of anything else and just accepted the moment's peace.