Between Never and Forever

by Shain Rose

Then she said the words that would gnaw at my soul for years to come. “I’m leaving.” “What?” I frowned, not sure I’d heard her correctly. “Wait. Now? Leaving for where? You don’t have a tour for—” “No.” She shook her head and folded another shirt. “I’m leaving for good. Moving to Nashville.” “Nashville?” I glanced around her room like there might be some clue I’d missed. “But you have college here starting in the summer—” “I’m finishing last semester of senior year online, Dex, and then I’m not going to college. Trinity wants me in Nashville right now before the tour and—” “You’re screwing with me,” I cut her off, shaking my head. My mind couldn’t comprehend what she was saying. She was the damn love of my life. Nashville was too far. “I’m not.” Her tone was clipped and stiff but that was her only indication of pain. I stared at the girl I loved, willed her to look at me. “You’re not leaving.”