Trevor pays the bill, and he walks me home. Even with the snow on the ground, it’s a pleasant stroll. Not much is said, and I know that he realizes that it’s really time for me.
“Shit, you’re almost done,” he exclaims when I open the apartment door.
I look around and the living room, kitchen, and most of my bedroom is in boxes, lined up against the wall.
“Yep, just got to finish up the closet and bathroom tonight.” I toss my purse onto the couch. Trevor stares at the wall, not saying anything. The tears building in my eyes again, looking at his face. I wrap my arms around him. “It’ll be okay,” I whisper to him.
He hugs me back. “I’m going to miss you so much,” his voice slightly cracks.
“I’m always here. I’m your twin. You can’t get rid of me even if you try.” The tear escapes my eye. We stay like that for a moment before Trevor breaks our connection.
“I love you.” He kisses my temple.
“I love you, twin.”
Trevor nods, the tears at the brim of his eyes, and walks out of the apartment. I stare at the door that he shut and cry. It’s like when our parents had divorced, and he left. The difference is, I’m the one leaving. I didn’t know that the pain was going to be this intense, but it is. I go over to the couch and put my head in my hands, letting the tears fall.
I don’t know how long I sit there, but the knock on the door causes me to wipe my tears away, and I open it. There stands Marley, my best friend, and soon to be my sister.
“So,” she walks past me into the apartment, “my fiancé called me and he sounds like a whiny girl, and I figure you need alcohol.” Marley pulls out a large bottle of tequila from her purse.
“Have I told you that we’re soulmates?” I tease her, heading to the kitchen. All my dishes are packed, but I still have some red Solo cups. Marley cracks the seal and pours a shot for each of us.
“Here is to the game winner,” she boldly states.
I look at her strangely. “The ‘game winner’?”
“Yes, don’t you want to be the ‘game winner’ of your own story, Pres?”
I never thought about it, but she’s right. I’d accomplished a lot, and I had finished at the top. I’m a game winner.
“To the game winner.” We toast.
My best friend takes a deep breath, and the burn of the drink seeps through me. “Let’s get started. Bring the cup.” She grabs the bottle, and we head off to the bedroom.
After an hour of sitting on my bedroom floor, drinking half a bottle and giggling, hardly anything is packed, but I’m feeling very tipsy. We started reminiscing about our high school days, guys we had crushes on, and the fun we had. The stories take me back to a time that I loved, and I’m so thankful to have my best friend with me.
“Alright, let’s get packing,” Marley shouts, clapping her hands together.
“I can’t stand.” I laugh for no reason.
“You can’t hold your liquor. You’re such a lightweight.” She teases. “Fine, you stay there, and I’ll start pulling stuff out of the closet.”
Marley stands at the open doors, looking at my clothes. Of course, she grabs all my jerseys. “Okay, I have a question.” She tosses the pile onto my lap. “Do you own every player’s jersey that was ever on the Penguins team?”
“Maybe,” I giggle, looking at the pile on my lap. Of course, Levi’s is on top.
“Oh, is that really Levi’s?” Marley kneels down next to me.
“Yep, it’s the one he gave me.” I trace the outline of his name. I feel pride doing it. It’s my Levi, he’s my Penguin. I love him more than anything else.
“Come on, chick, let’s focus.” Marley pulls me from my thoughts, and I help her carefully pack up my prized possessions.
Box after box, we finally finish. My closet is empty. I left out a couple of outfits for the next few days. Next, we head into the bathroom and make sure everything is gone, but what I would need. I stand there looking at the two rooms. The bare walls and the empty drawers leave a hole in my heart. I have been in this apartment since I came to JWU, but like Marley said, I won my game, and it’s time for the next round.
“You want to be alone?” Marley lays her head on my shoulder.
I nod, because I need to be.