Prologue

“So what are you gonna do? You’ve been deciding your next step for a while now, have you made your decision yet?” Devin asked his girlfriend, Ashley. He and Ashley were taking a last walk around their high school after the graduation ceremony.

“Yea, I have. I’m gonna study journalism at Harvard,” she answered, “have you decided were you’re gonna go yet?”

“Uh, huh. I’m gonna take that football scholarship at WSU,” Devin said with a sigh, taking Ashley’s hand in his. For a couple minutes, all they heard was the ticking of the clock and the sound of Ashley’s white high heels on the tile floor.

“Are you upset that I’m taking the scholarship, Ash?” Devin asked quietly.

“No! I’m excited for you about the scholarship. I was only thinking about…well, how this is the last time we’ll walk these halls together. You and I have so many memories here. But we’re done with high school now and its time to move on to bigger things. I’m just sad to see it all go.”

“I know. There are a lot of memories, aren’t there?” Devin smiled at the beautiful girl walking next to him. “My favorites are the ones that include you.”

Devin said the last part teasingly, but Ashley knew he meant it. Ashley looked up at the young man next to her. She had watched him grow from a scrawny Freshmen to the muscular football player he was now.

“Hey, it’s late. I gotta get you home, K?” Devin’s deep voice broke the silence. He wrapped his arm around Ashley’s shoulders and led her out to his little burgundy pickup.

* * * *

“I love you,” Devin said quietly in Ashley’s ear as they embraced in the airport. Devin was leaving for college first – partly because Ashley’s school was within driving distance and partly for his summer football training.

“I love you too,” Ashley said back. “I’m so proud of you for getting the scholarship, but I wish you didn’t have to leave.” She was beaming from ear to ear, but tears shone in her eyes.

“Don’t worry, Ash,” Devin began, pulling back so he could look her in the eye. “I’ll call you… and I’ll see you at Christmas and spring breaks, right?”

“Yea, but I’ll still miss you like crazy!” Ashley said with a sad smile, as she looked into his gorgeous green eyes.

The chaotic chatter of the airport was suddenly disturbed by a man’s voice over the loud speaker. “Last call for flight 713 to Seattle! Last call, flight 713 to Seattle.”

That’s my flight, Ash,” Devin looked around and gave Ashley a quick kiss. “I love you!”

“I love you more,” Ashley gave Devin a teasing smile.

“No way!” Devin replied with a quiet laugh and a hug. “I gotta go, baby. I’ll call you tomorrow – I promise!”

With that Devin picked up his carry-on and boarded the plane.

* * * *

The alarm clock flipped to midnight as Ashley lay on her stomach on her bed and stared at the bright pink walls of her old bedroom. She was home for spring break and she was enjoying the space of an entire house as opposed to her usual cramped dorm room at Harvard. She wasn’t looking forward to spring break now, not the way she had a few weeks ago. Sure she was happy to see her parents and have time off from school, but someone was missing. Devin. He had called a couple weeks ago to say that he wouldn’t be making it home for spring break. He told her his schedule was just too busy and he couldn’t figure out how to make it work.

Ashley sighed and rolled onto her back. She let her long dark hair hang off the edge of her full-sized bed. “I miss him,” she said to herself. “I miss him so much.”

Devin had made it home for Christmas, but there hadn’t been much time to hang out with or even see him. They’d had very little contact since then and it bothered Ashley. All the phone calls that had been promised hadn’t happened. And each time Ashley tried to call him, she only got his voicemail. It wasn’t like him to ignore her like this.

Ashley knew that things were only going to get worse, and they hurt enough already. She was starting to get the feeling that she needed to move on with her life – without Devin.

* * * *

Devin snapped his cell phone shut. “Her voicemail again!” he muttered. Devin knew things weren’t going well with Ashley. They hadn’t seen each other since Christmas and they hadn’t talked since before spring break. Devin couldn’t help but wonder if Ashley was upset with him because he couldn’t make it home. He tried calling her when he could, but she wouldn’t answer her phone and she never returned any of his messages. This had gone on for over a month.

Staring at the bland white wall of his dorm room, Devin realized that his worst nightmare had become his reality. Ashley had moved on.

Devin suddenly felt sick to his stomach. It was his fault that she was moving on. He should’ve made a better attempt to call her, should’ve gone home to see her during spring break. But he didn’t and now she was gone.

Slowly, Devin walked out to his little pickup. He climbed in and slammed the door. Frustrated, he pushed his fingers through his short hair, started the engine and gripped the steering wheel with all his might. He let out a built up sigh and let his head drop. A quiet tear rolled down his cheek and dripped on his worn out blue jeans.

Normally, Devin would’ve called her straight away and apologized and explained everything, but Ashley wasn’t going to answer her phone. He had lost his chance.

Knowing that Ashley was moving on was only the start. The start of every tear he would cry. The start of every lonely night that would come. The start of the rest of his life – without Ashley.