When Liam and I broke up, there was a part of me that was hoping he would change his mind.

I imagined he would come knocking on my bedroom door and tell me he made a mistake.

That we could make things work.

That he would give a long distance relationship a try.

That didn't happen.

The days and nights passed.

There was no knock on my bedroom door.

No messages on my phone.

I did not see him standing in the front yard leaning against the rusty pick-up truck he drives.

Liam was just gone.

I was devastated.

I've been hurt by the hopelessness I felt around my family.

My body and soul were tested and shaken.

But I didn't give up.

Everytime I got beaten by my own parents, I rise up and wipe the blood from my face.

I kept telling myself that what doesn't kill me makes me stronger.

It was not the same with Liam.

A part of me died when he left.

The part that loved and cared for him.

My grandma comforted me.

She told me something about birds.

She said we were no different.

We have to fly, migrate.

Go someplace else to make our lives better.

It was the same with Liam.

He knew that his dream was not going to come true in this rural area he grew up in.

Not with his family around.

"They bring him down because he cares for the young ones a lot. Don't be too hard on him. Let him spread his wings. They come back you know?"

I did not feel consoled.

When I was finally getting better, Grandma's words came back to me.

I became a bird.

By then, I would have been staying at her place for three years.

I came home from my job at a local coffee shop.

She was at the kitchen table playing solitaire with real cards.

I sat down and told her it was time to spread my wings.

She stopped shuffling and placed the cards face down on the table.

"Are you sure?"

That's all she asked before she gave me the key to the Ford Fiesta.

I cried the day I left.

When I came to her needing protection, my grandma opened the doors wide and took me in.

She gave me the family I couldn't find in my own home.

The years I spent with her healed my soul.

She gave me the courage to get back on my feet and try again.

The day I decided to spread my wings, Grandma and my cousins saw me off.

"Don't be a stranger." Chuck said then gave me a hug.

My grandmother took my hand and placed something in there.

When I opened it, there will folded bills.

I gave it back but she refused.

She already gave me too much by having me stay at her place for free.

"I would have given you more but this is all I have right now." She was teary eyed.

"You gave me more than I could ever need." We hugged and cried until it was time to hit the road.

There was a job opening at the Beaver Lodge in British Columbia.

One of Chuck's friend works there and that was how I got in.

I still interviewed.

Since I have experience working in a coffee shop, I got accepted.

It was difficult at first.

As with new beginnings.

The only person I knew was Larry.

He helped me find a place to stay then introduced me to his friends.

Moira and I hit it off quickly.

Eventually, I got used to my new life.

I also found out that I'm really great with people even the nasty ones.

If I can live with two of the most difficult people in the world, then dealing with an impatient guest is a walk in the park.

I enjoyed my stay at the lodge not only because I'm friends with my coworkers but also because I like what I was doing.

Grandma was right.

We have to go somewhere else to find a better life.

One of the reasons why I decided to leave was because I would always remember Liam.

He was always at the house.

If he was not hanging out with me, he was playing video games with Chuck.

It was hard to get rid of our memories because it occupied not only the rooms in my grandma's place but the street where we live.

There was also his family.

They have met me.

The younger kids adored me.

His parents felt the same way.

I struggled when I see them at the grocery store or any place really.

The place seemed smaller.

They made it hard to breathe.

In my new place, I called Grandma everyday.

It doesn't matter if I'm tired or stressed.

I like hearing her voice.

She kept me grounded.

Grandma reminded me that there is kindness in the world, that I will always have a family to call my own.

But nothing lasts forever.

The family and stability I knew was once again shaken when I got a call from Chuck.

I was just about to leave the house to pick up an order when the phone rang.

I knew the number by heart so I answered.

Chuck asked if I was sitting down.

My throat closed up.

There was a ringing in my ear and the loud throb of my pulse made it difficult to understand what he was saying.

"Breathe, Destiny." I heard him say on the other line.

I did.

It came out in ragged puffs but I managed to exhale.

"She wanted to wait for you but she didn't make it."

I clutched the door handle for support.

I thought I was spinning.

I don't remember what I did next.

The door opened and Jack rushed to where I was sitting on the couch.

He hugged me and once again, I cried.

Nothing made sense to me afterwards.

I was catatonic and the tears kept falling nonstop.

Sleep eluded me.

I couldn't find peace in my own head.

Even with the restrictions, I knew I had to see my grandma.

I don't want her to be buried without me saying goodbye.

In between sobs, I told Jack I want to go.

He took care of everything.

I woke up one morning to find Ralph gone.

"He's with Kate's mom." He said when I asked what happened.

He called the food delivery company to let them know I won't be coming to work, bought a ticket for our flight and packed both of our bags.

He ushered me to the door and then we were off.

Flying during this period was more stressful than ever because of the new rules we have to follow.

Restrictions were everywhere.

Before we boarded, my stress was through the roof.

I was hyperventilating and had no idea what was going on around me.

Jack was calm and in control.

He held my hands the whole time and whispered that I am not alone.

I don't know what I would have done if he was not around.

Chuck picked us up at the airport.

When I saw him, he looked like he hasn't been sleeping.

There were dark circles under his eyes and the sadness behind them was palpable.

I introduced Jack to him, we hugged and got in the car.

On the way to my grandma's house, I felt like I was never really there.

I was thinking of birds.

They come back you know.

The echo of her words seized my heart.

I was seized by the heavy hand of grief to the point where I couldn't breathe.

I lay my head on Jack's shoulder and wept.