Page 36 of Puck It!

I shoot her a tight smile.

"I made a mistake, a few mistakes, but I see how strong your fight is for this. You want my support; you’ve got it Macie."

"Thank you, Mom." I cautiously believe that; she’ll have to prove that shit.

She wraps her arms around me in a tight hug before she pulls herself away.

Jax steps up beside me and I look up to him, "You ready?"

I nod.

"Take care of my daughter Jax."

"Will do" he shoots me a wink and I quietly giggle, before my brother says his good-bye.

"I’ll come visit soon."

"Alright, I’m sure I’ll be back soon too."

He laughs, "I doubt that; you’ve wanted out of here for so long, you are going to avoid this place like the plaque."

I laugh, he’s probably right, but I will always come back, because of the one place I still need to say bye to.

I get into the passenger seat of Jax’s truck, still needing to get Sully, I watch Jax get into the driver’s seat, meeting my gaze, "Can we stop somewhere before getting Sully?" I ask.

"Yeah, it’s on the way." He starts his truck, and I look out the open window, giving the three of them a smile, before Jax wastes no time driving away.

It doesn’t take long, and we are at my spot, so I can say bye to my father, needing to close this door, the one I haven’t yet allowed myself to close.

I think the reason I was never able to shut this door, the door of saying good bye to my father because, in a way, I’ve always felt this spot, he was here with me.

No matter what my mother thinks I know my father would be proud of me, and I will only continue to make him proud.

"The big show is coming Dad. I just have to get there."

I kneel down, scooping up a handful of the gritty soil, I squeeze it in my hand as I close my eyes, the tears trickle down my cheeks before I say the words I’ve never wanted to say.

"Good bye, Dad."

I let the soil fall from my hand, trying to hold my shit together so this doesn’t turn into an outburst of tears, before I open my eyes, the blurry lake comes in my vision, and I wipe the tears from my cheeks and sniffle up my heart break.

"I’ll make you proud Dad."

I stand, my heart feeling like it’s being ripped from my chest as I turn and walk back to the truck and get in, settling in the seat, I avoid Jax’s gaze on me.

"You good?" I shake my head to his question, and feel that fight begin again to swallow down my emotion.

"Just drive Jax please."

He doesn’t say anymore, he starts his truck and pulls away from my spot, my dad’s spot, our spot. I need to let him go. But damn it if it doesn’t feel like the day, I lost him.

Jax reaches over, lacing his fingers through mine, curling his fingers into my hand, but he doesn’t say anything, and I appreciate it; Maybe he does know me better than I think.

The further we get away from my spot, and the closer we get to Sully’s, my lungs are finally able to breathe a full breath, and I look forward to my future, and the possibilities, not only with dance, but Jax, above it all now, I look forward to doing this all with him, someone I know is in my corner, on my team, just as much as I will his.

Jax and Sully load Sully’s bike, and I run up to Sully’s room to grab his last bag, when I stumble upon an old picture. It’s of me and his sister, Holly.

She was my age, a good friend, my best friend, my sister in a way. She was in a car accident a year ago, and she didn’t make it. Another heartbreaking reason for wanting to leave this place.

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