You Stay, He Goes

The difference between my first love, and my greatest love

“I’m moving to Texas. I want you to come with me.”

With two sentences I rocked your world, I know. I can still remember the look of horror on your face. I didn’t break my news gently, or consult you about this life changing decision. Maybe if I had your answer might have been different, but I don’t think so. You’re the type of guy who stays. Not with me. No, stays in this little town, in that job he hates, in his old bedroom at his dad’s house. So when I asked you to trust me, to take a leap and move halfway across the country with me, because we were twenty one and twenty one year olds can do totally crazy, irresponsible things like that, you said no.

You had valid reasons. Grown up reasons, reasonable reasons, that sounded all well and good. You had a job here, your family was here, we had responsibilities here, you couldn’t leave just yet. Except, we were twenty one, and had no real responsibilities. You could have gone, but you’re not that kind of guy. So I went, and you stayed.

That was pretty much the end of us. We tried for a few more weeks, then you called me one Sunday and said it was over. You moved out of our apartment, back into that room at your dads, you canceled our vacation timeshare, you returned the car we shared to my mother’s house. You dismantled any chance of a life we might have had together. I guess I should have known what was coming when you stayed behind.

It’s been years and when you think back to your first love and my face comes to mind, I hope you remember how it felt to kiss me goodbye. I hope you think about what it was like to miss me those few weeks we lasted with miles and miles between us. I hope when your last great love asks you to go, you don’t hesitate.

You see, I’ve found my greatest love and he goes. He goes with me to new places, he goes with me to experience new things, he goes on all my grandest adventures. Recently I came home from work and I said to him:

Let’s move to Asheville.

He grinned at me, not a trace of worry or horror on his face and he said:

Sure baby, Let’s go.

That’s the difference between you, my first love, and him, my greatest love. You stay, he goes. We go.

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Amanda Rose Rebello

Written by

Sometimes a writer. Typically a romantic. Occasionally a cynic. Likes flowers, pretty things, guns and getting dirty. amandarebellowriter@gmail.com

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