✿Ella✿ I slipped my hand into Aaron's as we walked down the cobblestone path in the park that looked over the city. My city. Stonehaven. I loved everything about it. The cobblestone paths that were paved through the whole town, the little buildings and shops that lined the streets and mostly, the people. Especially Aaron. My mind drifted back to the day we first met in preparatory school. I had stared at him across the room, noticing every little detail of my new crush. The way his shaggy, brown hair fell in front of his soft, green eyes. He was the guy for me. I sighed, and looked at my boyfriend dreamily as our shoes clapped down the path. Birds chirped overhead to fit my happy mood exactly. "Ella?" Aaron asked me. "Hm?" I replied absentmindedly, turning my face toward the city below us, still thinking. "I have something important to tell you." I jerked to attention, noticing Aarons worried face. “Aaron?” I gripped his hand tighter. “Aaron, what’s wrong?” “I-I-” He stopped walking, and started choking up. “Aaron?” “I’m so sorry Ella.” He raised his head and met my gaze. “I-I have to leave.” My brain swirled into a fury of thoughts and worries. My chest felt heavy, and my brain pounded against my skull. “You’re...what?” “El, I have to leave Stonehaven.” Aaron took both of my hands and put his forehead on mine. “I got accepted into Blackthorne Academy.” I gasped. “Blackthorne Academy? That’s across the country.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “I know.” The silence that ensued was painful. Every minute felt like years as Aaron held me in his arms. ★Aaron★ The look on her face burned my soul. "I'm so sorry Ella." I said over and over. "I'm so, so sorry." "How...?" She pulled herself away from me and spoke in a harsh whisper. "How could you do this to me?" "Ella, I applied to a lot of colleges and this one was the only one that accepted me. I-" I choked up again. "You know I would never mean to hurt you." The tears streamed down her face, and I realized for the first time that they were streaming down my face too. "I know Aaron." She sobbed. "I know." She ran up to me and embraced me as hard as she could. "But please don't leave... please..." "Ella." I whispered in her ear. "I love you, but I have to go." She mumbled something that I couldn't hear and then pounded her fists against my chest. "How could you Aaron?" "Ella-" "No!" She interrupted and took off down the path back toward the city. "Just... no!" I didn't call after her because I knew it wouldn't be any use. When Ella got her mind set on something she never turned back. She would never turn back. Three Years Later... ✿Ella✿ I messed around with my brown hair that fell just past my shoulders. My plain, white dress wasn't much, but it was perfect. It didn't matter how I looked. All that mattered was that I was getting married. "Ella!" My sister called. "It's time!" I slowly stood up from the old wooden chair I had been sitting in, picked up my bouquet of flowers, and waited for the flower girl to finish spreading the rose petals on the aisle I was going to walk on. I self-consciously spread my hands over the folds of my simple A-line gown. The wedding march started playing as the doors swung open and I marched down the aisle, acting as confident as I could. The jitters in my stomach made me feel as though the seams in my dress would pop right out. As I made it to the front of the little chapel where my fiancée stood, my nerves slowed down. James Elliot Taylor. I took his hands and as the priest spoke, I hardly heard a word. My thoughts drifted toward Aaron, and what could've been. "Do you, Ella Louise Shoemaker, take this man to be your wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?" The priest asked. I shook all thoughts of Aaron out of my head. I knew a bunch of eyes were looking at me, but I wasn't scared. After all, this was the happiest day of my life. "I do." He turned toward James. "Do you, James Elliot Taylor, take this woman to be your wedded wife? To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do you part?" He stared at me with his big, playful eyes. "Of course I do." "Then, in the sight of God and these witnesses, I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. James Taylor! You may seal your commitment with a kiss." James took me by the waist and softly brushed his lips against mine. My family and friends applauded and cheered. My sister screamed the loudest out of everyone, and my mom couldn't stop crying. This was the happiest day of my life. ★Aaron★ I stared from across the street as Ella and her new husband took off down the cobblestone paved path in their car with the words: "Just married!" on a sign that clung to the trunk. Ella...
I shut my eyes to keep the hot, sticky tears from falling. Was Blackthorne Academy really worth it? Worth losing the love of my life? I still haven't moved on. I've regretted that decision ever since I made it. I buried my face in my hands. Why? Why was I so stupid? One Year Later... ✿Ella✿ I held my newborn baby in my tired arms. "Hello Gemma." I whispered. "Welcome to the world." James sat by my hospital bed, his eyes wide. Up until now, I didn't think that it had really sunk in that he was a dad now, but now that Gemma Lynn Taylor was in my arms, there was no denying it. "James?" I questioned, snapping him out of his daze. "Do you want to hold her?" A mixed look of fear and excitement swept over his face. "Yeah." I delicately placed her into his arms. "She's beautiful." He breathed. "Just like you." I laughed. "I bet I look awful right now." "Actually," His loving eyes pierced my soul. "I think you look more beautiful now then the day I first set my eyes on you." I giggled again. "Yeah, okay." I replied sarcastically. James planted a kiss on my cheek. "It's true." The nurse pushed me out of the hospital in a uncomfortable wheelchair as I held Gemma in my arms. "She's so beautiful." The nurse said. "Thank you Cate." I mumbled back as James helped me slowly climb into the car. "This is going to be awesome!" He exclaimed quietly to not wake the baby. "It is." I replied. This was my dream. ★Aaron★ I watched Ella be pushed out of the hospital in a wheelchair holding her new baby in her arms. A girl. My dad who worked at the hospital told me it was. Gemma was her name. I wondered what could've happened if we'd gotten married. What our family would've been like. Our kids... This was crazy. The past was past. I knew that, but I still seemed to be stuck in it. Sixteen Years Later... ✿Ella✿ "Okay everyone! Family meeting!" I called up the stairs. "Everyone to the living room please!" A whole chorus of "Coming mom!" proceeded as the rest of my family made it to the living room. I waited patiently for everyone to quiet down and while I did, I took a few moments to admire how much our little family had grown. Our little Gemma was sixteen now and we had five more kids after her. Emily who was thirteen, Michael and Mya who were twins and were ten, Luke who was seven, and little Kayla who was four. I smiled. This was our big happy family. "Settle down kids!" James exclaimed. "We have some important news. Michael, stop kicking Luke's feet." Michael laughed and Luke looked like he was about to burst into tears. "Boys, that's enough." I said gently, but sternly. "We actually have two things to tell you all." "What mom?" Emily asked quietly. I turned toward James. "Do you want to tell them dear? Or should I?" "I can." He answered and took my hand. "Kids, your mom is going to have another baby." I smiled as the kids sat there, their mouths hanging open in shock. "No way!" Gemma screamed. "No way!" She stood up and gave me a hug. The others followed, saying things like: "Are you serious mom?" "I can't believe it!" "I want it to be a boy." "No! A girl!" After everyone had calmed down again, James continued: "And the next big news is that we're moving." He paused, then continued. "We'll have to move to make room for the new baby and we're already stretched to capacity as it is." "What's ca-capa-capacity?" Kayla pronounced. "Daddy means that there isn't a lot of room in this house anymore, so we're going to a new one." Gemma explained. "Mom?" Mya pried. "Will we be moving out of Stonehaven?" My thoughts flashed to that night in the park when Aaron had told me he was leaving Stonehaven. The night I promised myself I'd never leave Stonehaven. Ever. "Are you okay mom?" Michael asked looking concerned. "Yes, I'm okay." I dabbed the tears the edged at the corners of my eyes and turned back toward Mya. "No, we aren't leaving Stonehaven. Just moving to a different house." She let out a long breath. "Good." "When are we moving?" Luke asked. "Next week." James interceded. Everyone started talking over each other all a once. My family. ★Aaron★ I watched Ella and her family load boxes of things into their new house. It was a beautiful house. One I could never give her. I watched as her husband kissed her, and her kids ran away covering their eyes. The perfect family. The family that could've been mine. My one stupid decision cost me my perfect life. The life I could've had if I hadn't left. The love I left behind. The end. I hope you enjoyed this story! :) I originally wrote this on my other profile @-AllyAuthor- and decided to share it here too! Thank you all! AllyAuthor <3
