Chapter Three: The Last Goodbye Chapter Three: The Last Goodbye With Amelia

The Promise We Couldn't Keep

Chapter Three: The Last Goodbye

The storm arrived before dawn.

Rain battered the windows of the Brooks mansion, and flashes of lightning lit up Amelia's bedroom. She hadn't slept. Her suitcase lay open on the bed, only half-packed.

She couldn't bring herself to believe it.

Three days.

That was all her father had given her before taking her away from the only place that had ever felt like home.

More importantly...

Away from Ethan.

A soft knock came at her door.

"Miss Amelia?"

It was Mrs. Grace, the elderly housekeeper who had cared for Amelia since she was a child.

"You may come in."

Mrs. Grace stepped inside carrying a tray with breakfast, but one look at Amelia's swollen eyes told her everything.

"You've been crying."

"I'm leaving."

Mrs. Grace sighed deeply.

"I know."

"I don't want to go."

The old woman placed the tray on the table and gently embraced her.

"There are some battles we cannot win today."

Amelia wiped away another tear.

"But that doesn't mean they're lost forever."

---

Across town, Ethan was helping his mother open the diner before school.

The smell of fresh bread filled the small building as customers slowly trickled in.

"You've been distracted lately," his mother said while arranging cups on a shelf.

"I'm okay."

She smiled knowingly.

"That girl again?"

Ethan chuckled.

"Is it that obvious?"

"A mother always knows."

Before he could answer, the bell above the door rang.

A man wearing a dark suit entered.

He wasn't there for breakfast.

His eyes scanned the room until they settled on Ethan.

"Are you Ethan Carter?"

"I am."

The stranger reached into his jacket.

Ethan's heart skipped a beat.

Instead of a weapon, the man pulled out a white envelope.

"This was left for you."

"Who sent it?"

"I'm not allowed to say."

The man turned and walked away before Ethan could ask another question.

He opened the envelope.

Inside was a single piece of paper.

Meet me beneath the oak tree after school. Come alone.

There was no name.

Only a tiny drawing of half a silver heart.

---

The school day felt endless.

Ethan barely heard a word his teachers said.

When the final bell rang, he rushed toward the river.

The old oak tree stood exactly where it always had.

And beneath it...

Amelia.

She smiled the moment she saw him, but her smile couldn't hide the sadness in her eyes.

"You came."

"Of course I did."

For a while, neither of them spoke.

The river flowed quietly beside them.

Birds circled above.

It was the kind of peaceful afternoon that made the world seem kind.

Then Amelia broke the silence.

"I'm leaving."

Ethan's smile disappeared.

"What?"

"My father is transferring me."

"No."

"I leave tomorrow morning."

"No."

His voice was firmer this time.

"There has to be another way."

"I've tried everything."

"You can stay with relatives."

"I don't have any."

"We'll figure something out."

She shook her head slowly.

"My father controls everything."

Ethan looked toward the ground.

For the first time in years...

He felt completely helpless.

---

Amelia reached into her school bag.

"I want you to have this."

She handed him a small leather notebook.

"My journal?"

She nodded.

"It has everything."

"Our memories."

"My dreams."

"The things I was too scared to tell anyone."

Ethan accepted it carefully, as though it might break.

"I'll keep it safe."

"I know."

She smiled weakly.

"I trust you."

Ethan reached into his pocket.

"I have something too."

He removed his father's old wristwatch.

"It doesn't work very well anymore."

"I can't take this."

"You can."

"It belonged to my dad."

She looked at him in surprise.

"It's the most valuable thing I own."

"Exactly."

"If we're apart..."

"I want a part of me to stay with you."

Tears filled Amelia's eyes again.

She fastened the old watch around her wrist.

"I'll never take it off."

---

The sun slowly began to disappear behind the hills.

Golden light danced across the river.

"I don't want today to end," Amelia whispered.

"Neither do I."

She reached for his hand.

Their fingers intertwined.

Neither of them noticed the black SUV parked several hundred feet away.

Inside, Richard Brooks watched through the tinted window.

"She's saying goodbye."

"Yes, sir," his driver replied.

Richard remained silent.

For just a moment, pain crossed his face.

Then it vanished.

"Drive."

The SUV pulled away without making a sound.

---

That night, Ethan couldn't sleep.

He opened Amelia's journal.

The first page contained neat handwriting.

If you're reading this... then we've already been separated.

His heart pounded.

He turned the page.

Another sentence.

There's something about our families that no one has told us. If you ever discover the truth... promise me you won't stop searching, even if everyone tells you to.

Before Ethan could read another word, there was a loud knock at the front door.

His mother answered.

A police officer stood outside.

"Mrs. Carter?"

"Yes?"

"I'm afraid there's been an accident."

Ethan's blood ran cold.

"What happened?"

The officer removed his cap.

"There was a vehicle that lost control on the highway this evening."

He paused.

"It matches the description of the car carrying Amelia Brooks and her family."