Trigger warnings: su*cide, de*th
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Looking over at my angel of a girlfriend in the passenger seat, I couldn’t believe it. She was actually leaving. My darling Danni is moving to Italy. Danni saw me watching her. “Maggie. Keep your eyes on the road. You’re going to kill us if you keep staring at me.” I rolled my eyes as I pulled into the airport parking lot. Before we got out of the car, I leaned over the gearshift and kissed Danni. I kissed her for as long as I could. “God, I’m going to miss you.” Eventually, Danni climbed out of the Jeep, grabbing her backpack as she did. I climbed out as well, grabbing her suitcase from the trunk. As I walked Danni to the entrance of the airport, I couldn’t help but remember the day she told me she needed to move 4,000 miles away from me.
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TWO MONTHS EARLIER
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Danni and I were sitting on a picnic blanket. She’d prepared a cute lunch for us in a meadow. I was wearing a floral dress, and Danni was wearing ripped jeans and a crimson sweater. Her red lipstick complimented her hazel eyes. “So, Danni. You said you had something to tell me?” I questioned. “Let’s just enjoy lunch first. I promise I’ll tell you after,” She told me. Now I was worried. Was it good or bad? All Danni had told me was that she had big news. “Dannnnnnni,” I whined, drawing out her name. “Just tell me. Please?” I gave my best puppy-dog eyes, and she burst out laughing. “Nope! You’re not going to break me this time.” I stood up, grabbing Danni’s hands. I pulled her to her feet and started running. I dragged Danni behind me, who was laughing as we ran. We ran until we reached the edge of the meadow. I took Danni by the waist and kissed her. Danni’s mouth molded to mine. My hands got lost in Danni’s curly, ginger hair. When we broke apart, I asked quietly, “Will you tell me now?” Danni sighed. “Nope! And no more kisses for you!” I fake pouted as we walked back to the blanket.
We continued eating, laughing about life. We had no worries in the world. 22, just out of college, ready to start an actual life. A life with each other. Once we were done eating, I moved over on the blanket so I was sitting right next to Danni. I placed my head in her lap, looking up at her face. “How about now?” I asked innocently. She laughed. “You are impossible, Maggie. What am I going to do without you?” I furrowed my brow. “What do you mean?” Danni looked down at me and announced, “I’m moving to Italy!” She’s joking, right?
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PRESENT DAY
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Danni stopped at the door. “I will see you soon, my darling. I love you.” She placed a kiss on my cheek. “I love you too. Text me when you land.” I kissed her, right on the lips. I pulled away after a moment. “Go. I love you so much.” I held Danni’s hands in my own. I subtly slipped a note into her hand. As she walked away, I couldn’t help but wonder what she would think of my letter.
Two days later, I got a call from an unknown number. “Hello?” I answered skeptically. “Is this Margret Blake?”
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“Hello, Ms. Blake. We regret to inform you that two nights ago, a plane crashed over the Atlantic Ocean. On that flight was Danielle Stupor. There were no survivors.” I dropped the phone. No. Danni couldn’t be dead. She was safe in Italy. My darling Danni. She had to be okay.
The funeral was a week later. Afterwards, I went to Danni’s old apartment. I don’t know why. It started to rain, but I didn't care. I sat down on the pavement, leaning against the wall. I pulled up the hood on my raincoat and cried. I cried for hours. That night, I placed a gun to my temple and scribbled out a note. It read: And we all grew up. Except for you. Goodbye. 17 minutes later, I saw my darling Danni again.
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