I laid there awake in the spare bedroom in Ben's arms. My head rested against his solid chest. I drew random patterns on his chest with my fingers. "I love you." I said into the silence. He kissed my forehead. "I love you too." He answered. "What are we gonna do?" I asked. "Whatever you want to do." He answered. "We have less things holding us back this time." I said and looked up at him. "I'm not some 17 year old girl anymore. And you're not married anymore." I said kissing his lips quickly. He smirked. "No you are not. You are a sexy, successful 27 year old woman. And I'm single and just as much inlove with you as I was then." He said. I smiled. "Run away with me." I said suddenly deciding exactly what I wanted. He looked startled. "What?" He asked. "Run away with me Ben Lewis." I said again. "You'd be willing to leave all of this for me?" He asked a small smile on his lips. I nodded. "When given the choice the first time I think I made the wrong one. So I'm asking you to run away with me. Let's start over somewhere else where no one knows who we are or anything about us. I love you. I'm willing to go anywhere as long as I'm with you." I answered." "Where do you wanna go?" He said sounding excited. "Didn't you say you had a house in Maine?" He nodded. "And I've heard Maine is beautiful in the spring." "It is." He said in agreement. "So we're going to Maine?" He asked. I nodded with a grin. "We're going to Maine!" I said excitedly and brought his face to mine. He sat up in bed causing me to sit up wrapping the covers around my chest as I did. "Well we aren't leaving right now. I need a few days to get all my stuff together." He shook his head. "Leave it all. We'll get new stuff. Let's start over fresh. Just you and me. Forever." He said definitely. I gave a nod getting excited. This was finally happening. "I still have to call Claire. I'll turn the practice over to her." I said grabbing my phone and dialing her number.

I sat at my kitchen table and Reread the note I wrote for Chelsea.

Dear Chels,

I didn't mean to leave like this. I just can't stay here and be the person I want to be and be with the person I want to be with here. I'd be labeled as a slut and told it was just the grief over Will that was doing this. Or that I was moving on way to fast and I must not have loved Will at all. I'd have people judge me when they have no business judging me at all. I need you to understand that I couldn't stay here. Ben has a house he owns in Maine...that's where we're going. I'm starting fresh. This place has too many bad memories for me to settle and start a family here. I have turned this practice over to Claire. I'm leaving you a key to the house. I plan on keeping it for visits or whatever but I'm leaving everything here. Please take care of it for me. I've already talked to a hospital there where I will practice until I get my patients built up so I can be out on my own. Ben is doing the same thing. I need you to tell mom and dad. I couldn't bare to tell them. Please give them my sincerest apologies and try to make them understand, they probably won't but please at least try. I love you Chelsea. You will always be my bestfriend. I wish the best to you and Luke and that beautiful baby of yours. I'll call you when I get there and settled and have a new phone (yes I'm leaving this one.) please try to understand and not be mad.

Love,

Jayla

I folded the note back up and put it in the envelope and sealed it and wrote her name on the front with my door key. I sat in front of the chair I just got up from. I looked around my kitchen. I'm going to miss this I really am. I felt arms wrap around me from behind. His head resting on my shoulder. He quickly placed a quick kiss on my neck. I rested my body back into his. "I love you." I said closing my eyes and resting my head against his chest. "I love you more." He answered. We stood like that for a while. Eventually we moved. I walked in and out of every room in my house. In my bedroom, the room I shared with Will for 6 years, I left my wedding ring sitting on my dresser and picked up the necklace Ben gave me 6 or 7 years ago, I don't even remember, I put it back on. I grabbed a small over night bag and put the essentials in it; like tooth brush and tooth paste, my contact solution and case and my glasses and case. My straightener and brush, and several pairs of lace thongs and panties. I then ,of course, grabbed my medical bag. I made sure all of my random medical items were in there along with my favorite stethoscope. I carried them downstairs. I walked into my library and picked up a few of my favorites and put them in a different bag.

After I walked around to all of the rooms in the house. I made my way back downstairs and took my bags out to Ben's truck. I then joined him in the living room. I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head against his chest listening to his heart beat. This is real. Ben is literally standing in the living room with me. I'm standing here in his arms listening to his heart beat. This is really happening. "You ready to hit the road?" I asked not moving. "Whenever you are." "We're really doing this?" I said looking up at him. He planted a soft kiss on my lips. "We're really doing this." I smiled. "Do we need to stop by your house?" He shook his head. "Nope. Have everything I'll need up there." He said. I gave a slight nod. "Ready to go?" I asked. He nodded and joined our hands before walking out of my house for the last time. We got into the truck and started on the road before I pulled out my phone and texted Chelsea. "Hey Chels can you come by the house?" I typed and sent. She replied a few minutes later. "Yeah. Be there in a few." "Thank you. I love you." I typed and made sure it sent before letting the window down and throwing my phone out of it. Ben gave me a sideways glance with a smirk. I laughed. "I told you I wanted a new start. That was am important part of it. He nodded and went back to driving.