Forgive and Forget

That whole week I waited for Harold to come see me, but I didn’t even get a text. Before I knew it our house was packed into boxes and I was boarding a plane that would take me to my new life. I didn’t even get to tell him goodbye.


****3 Years Later****

My eyes were watery as they traced the now familiar skyline of the city that had become my home. My three years spent here in New York had taught me things about taking chances and letting people in. I had learned how to take care of myself out in the real world, and I wasn’t so scared all the time. There was still one thing that terrified me as I stood gazing out of the window in our spacious apartment. My mom’s job had once again relocated her, and right before my senior year. The irony of the whole ordeal was that we were moving back to my home town. I wonder if anyone even remembered me. My nervous thoughts were pushed from my head as my mom came up behind me and started stroking my hair.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” she said quietly. “I know what I’ve put you through these last few years. I tried to get them wait until after your last year of school, but they really need me over in San Diego.” I sighed and turned to face my mother with a sad smile on my face.

“It’ll be fine, Mom. I thought I would hate this place, but now these streets are like a home to me. Besides, I grew up in San Diego. It’s not like I’m starting over again.” She looked at me for a minute before pursing her lips worriedly. “Do you think that you’ll try to get in touch with-“

“No, Mom. It’s been three years. I doubt I’ll even run into him. It’s not a small town.” I reassured her, knowing exactly who she was talking about. My mom tilted her head with confusion. “But don’t you think you’ll be seeing a lot of him at school?”

I turned back examining the night sky. “And why would I- wait… what did you say??” I asked nervously, spinning around to face her. “Oh Macy. You didn’t know?” my mom murmured with sympathy in her voice. “You’re going to the high school that you would have been zoned for if we never moved.” I quickly connected the dots. In just a week, I would be back at school with all the people that I went to middle school with. And that included Harold.

My heart rang with guilt at the thought of facing my former best friend. I hadn’t seen or spoken to him ever since that day that I messed everything up. There were so many questions running through my head. Did Harold ever manage to make new friends after I left? Did he ever think about me? I wondered how he was doing in school, and hoped that the bullies had eased up on him. A small part of me wanted to know if he had ended up falling in love with anyone else. Harold was never very smooth when it came to girls, but he was sweet and intelligent. Part of me hoped that he had found a girlfriend who laughed at all his jokes and really made him happy. He deserved that.

The next few days were a blurry rush of last minute packing, and before I knew it we were flying back to the home town that felt like anything but home to me.

Notes