Page 94 of A Thousand Broken Pieces

Savannah was crying harder and harder into the phone. It shattered me. But it had to be this way. I knew it did. Deep down, I knew she did too.

I wiped tears from my cheeks and said, “I want a life with you, Savannah. I want to meet you in Harvard in the fall, stronger and able to function. I want us to have a chance—Ineedus to. You’re the one thing that is keeping me going. But saying goodbye to you … I’m not strong enough to endure that, Peaches. I can never say goodbye to the love of my life.” Savannah’s breathing was labored from so much crying, but she was listening to me. “I love you,” I hushed out. “Please believe me. I love you so much. You’re myeverything.”

“Cael,” Savannah said, her voice cracking. “I love you too. I love you … so much. I’m so sorry I shouted at you. I’m just … I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too,” I said, still feeling broken and like my heart was being split open. “I’m going into a residential program, so I don’t know how much I’ll be able to talk. But I’ll call and text you every chance I get. I’ll need you to help get me through.”

“I’m so proud of you,” Savannah said quietly, and it eased some of the pain threatening to take me down. “And I’ll think of you every day.”

“Harvard,” I said, throat tight but speaking that goal out loud. “We’ll meet again at Harvard.”

“Harvard,” she echoed, and a sense of peace settled over me. “I’ll be counting down the days.”

Leo tapped me on my shoulder, and I saw the plane was boarding. “I have to go,” I said. I didn’t want to get off the phone.

“I love you,” she said. “Let me know you land safely.”

“I love you too,” I said, and it took everything I had to end that call. But I kept Savannah’s face in my mind and her love in my heart and knew that they were strong enough to carry me through.

After a day of traveling, I landed at JFK. It was strange to see America’s skies again. All I could think of was what Savannah was doing right then. They were traveling home today. But she would be in Georgia, and I would be in therapy.

I followed Leo through the airport and out into arrivals. It only took me a few seconds to find them. Without even getting my luggage, I ran through the crowd and slammed into the arms of my mom and dad. Tears sprung to my eyes, and I whispered, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for,” my mom said.

“Nothing at all,” my dad said, voice barely audible.

I reared back and saw their eyes were red. But there was happiness on their faces too. Their son was back, and I didn’t just mean in the physical sense. I might have still been healing, but I was closer to the boy I was before than the one who had been racked with grief.

Leo greeted my parents and explained to them what would happen next. I turned on my cell phone, and a single message came through.

PEACHES:

I love you so much. Always remember that. I know you can do this.

I sighed deeply. Then I texted her back one simple word.

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