Even the sky was mourning my departure from Arrowood. The wind whispered to the trees who rustled in reply. The raindrops tumbled from the sky and fell to the ground. I was just starring out of the window, watching the world pass by. 

Everyone was sat downstairs eating breakfast, but I couldn't. I felt sick to the stomach with guilt. I couldn't face the idea that I had been here less than a year, and I had already found a home, whereas some people had been here all their lives and never had a hope of finding a family to call their own. Nor could I face leaving Clark and Jules. 

They had been through everything with me. They came with me to my brother's funeral, put up with all my crying. Now I felt as if I was turning my back on them. I sat on my windowsill, leaning my back against the wall, letting the tears fall down my face, making no effort to wipe them and just listened to the wind. 

The door squeaked open to reveal Miss Dayles. She came over to me and looked at me with her soft eyes. She took a tissue out of her pocket and wiped away my tears with it. Then she pulled me into a hug. 

"Thank you," I told her, "For everything." 

She pulled away and looked at me, taking my hands in her's.

"I'm going to tell you this now because I don't want to cry in front of the others," she began, "I'm going to really miss you, Grace Knight, no, Grace Burrage- Cook. You are such as brave and independent girl, hold onto that, but don't push away people who want to look out for you. Now, go take on the world."

And with that, she let go of my hands and left the room leaving the door slightly ajar. Not seconds later Clark and Jules entered. I opened my arms for a hug, which they instantly accepted, running over to me crying.  

"We'll miss you." They said together. 

"I'll miss you too."

No more words were said, we just hugged and hugged not wanting to let go. Then Jules began to sing, and soon enough we were all joining in. 

Don't kiss me goodbye again
Leave this night clean and quiet
You want the last word
You want me to laugh
But leave it for now

All you can say
All you can feel
Was wrapped up inside that one perfect kiss
Leave it at that:
I'll watch you turn the corner and go...

And goodbye until tomorrow
Goodbye until the next time you call
And I will be waiting
I will be waiting
Goodbye until tomorrow
Goodbye 'til I recall how to breathe
And I have been waiting
I have been waiting for you

I stand on a precipice
I struggle to keep my balance
I open myself
I open myself one stitch at a time

Finally yes!
Finally now!
Finally, something takes me away
Finally free!
Finally, he can cut through these strings
And open my wings!

So goodbye until tomorrow!
Goodbye until my feet touch the floor
And I will be waiting
I will be waiting!
Goodbye until tomorrow!
Goodbye until the rest of my life
And I have been waiting
I have been waiting for you!
Waiting for you
Waiting for you!


I called Elise to help me pack my bags
I went downtown and closed the bank account
It's not about another shrink
It's not about another compromise
I'm not the only one who's hurting here
I don't know what the Hell is left to do
You never saw how far the crack had opened
You never knew I had run out of rope and


All you ever wanted
But I could never rescue you
No matter how I tried
All I could do was love you hard
And let you go

No matter how I tried
All I could do was love you
God, I loved you so



Goodbye until tomorrow!
Goodbye until I crawl to your door
And I will be waiting
I will be waiting!

Goodbye until tomorrow!
Goodbye until I'm done thanking God
For I have been waiting!
I have been waiting for you!
I have been waiting!
I have been waiting for you!
I will keep waiting -
I will be waiting for you!

Just close the gate;
I'll stand and wait

Jamie


You never noticed how
The wind had changed
I didn't see a way we both could win

Goodbye Cathy

Goodbye


Goodbye

They took my hands in one of theirs and lead me out the door, with Clark taking my suitcase with him. We walked down the stairs, not letting go. I came down the stairs to see every kid lined up all awaiting a hug. 

I went up to each of them, giving them a tight hug. We had all become so close and saying goodbye was going to be hard. I hugged little Erin last, and she handed me a badly wrapped present but it was the thought that counts. I thanked her and opened it to reveal a framed photograph taken only days ago of the whole Arrowwood clan. 

"Don't forget us," Erin said.

"Never."

I turned around to see Josh, Lizzy and - 

"BEN!" I cried running up to hug him. He lifted me off my feet, swaying me slightly digging his head in my hair. We stayed like that, not having seen each other in what felt like forever. 

"I missed you," he whispered in my ear.

"Me too." I smiled pulling away.

I hugged Josh and Lizzy as well. It was hard to hug Lizzy, however, because she was holding Ben's hand not letting go, which was explainable. It was rather ambiguous though, I couldn't quite decide whether it was because they wanted to make up from lost time apart from each other, or whether Ben was still quite timid - not wanting to be taken again.

I then turned to see my two best friends standing in front of me. I ran up to them and hugged them so tight that I could barely breathe. I wasn't ready to leave them, but they pulled away. Jules then handed me a package, wrapped in brown paper and string. According to Clark, it was a homage to The Sound of Music.

I unwrapped it to find the first ever outfit that Jule had lent to me.

"Jules I can't take this," I said giving it back to her. 

"Please," she begged, handing the package back to me. 

Then I noticed something sticking out from underneath the outfit. Clark's watch. He had lent it to me when I first arrived because I really like to know what time it was and I didn't have one with me. I looked up and tried to give it back. 

"Please?" he asked.

I nodded once again. We took hands again and they led me outside. Ben and Lizzy climbed into the back of the car we were taking back to New York. Josh put my luggage in the boot whilst I gave Jules and Clark one last hug. I looked back at Miss Dayles and nodded to her. She had her arms around the rest of Arrowwood's residents, standing on the porch. 

"Keeping fighting," Clark told me.

"And never give up," cried Jules. 

"I'll miss you."

"We will too."

I let go of their hands and climbed into the car. Josh had got in and started the engine.

"Ready?" he asked me.

"Ready," I affirmed.

I starred out the window as we pulled out of the drive. Through the rain-soaked window, I saw Clark and Jules waving and running with the car shouting departing messages. I waved until we were out of sight. I sat back in my seat and sighed. 

"Are you ready to go home now?" Lizzy asked.

I looked back at her and Ben holding hands.

"I think I'm ready for the next adventure."