To Say Goodbye Read Online Free PDF

out.”
    “Deal.”
    _______________
    “Two Miller Lights,” Stella ordered at the bar once they climbed onto the wobbling stools. A KISS song blared in the background, threatening to give Sophia a blasting headache. This wasn’t quite the scene she had in mind. Of course, lately, her only scene was her living room.
    As the bartender complied, Stella turned to Sophia. “Isn’t it good to be out?”
    “I guess.”
    “Oh stop. It’s not so bad.”
    “How’d you find this place?”
    “Larry brought me here last Friday.”
    “Who’s Larry?”
    Stella looked sheepish. “A guy I met a few weeks ago.” Despite her attempts to hold back, Sophia could see she was busting to tell her more.
    “Go on.”
    “He’s great, Soph. Really great.” Stella turned to her beer as the bartender set it in front of her. She pretended to be busying herself with the bottle.
    “That’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
    Stella looked at her, unsure. Sophia sighed.
    “Stella, you can talk to me about this. I’m not going to melt.”
    “I know. I just... I feel terrible talking about my love life. With everything. I didn’t want to make you feel sad.”
    “Which is stupid. Because I already feel sad. You can’t make it any worse. Trust me. Tell me about this guy.”
    “We met at Panera Bread a few weeks ago. I accidentally forgot my wallet in my car. He paid for my coffee and bagel, and we chatted. He’s really great, Soph. He’s an engineer. We went out twice already, and we have plans for tomorrow.”
    Sophia smiled, recognizing the telltale radiance in her friend’s face. “You like him a lot, huh? I can see it on your face.”
    “He’s perfect. Really. A great job, handsome, really sweet. I just feel so comfortable talking with him.”
    “I’m so happy for you. I am. I can’t wait to meet him.”
    Sophia swigged her beer, turning slightly from the conversation.
    Don’t think about it. Be happy. Stella deserves this, she told herself as she fought back a stinging in her eyes. She didn’t want to feel jealous, didn’t want to feel angry that while Stella was out finding love and starting a new relationship, hers was gone. She wanted to feel happy, be selflessly happy for her friend’s good fortune. It was unquestionably hard.
    She turned toward the other side of the bar, pretending to be interested in watching a game of pool, so she could prevent Stella from detecting her true feelings. Stella had known her for years. Sophia’s “I’m fine” lie would never work.
    As she glanced around, she saw two men, both joking and laughing, sitting at a small table across the room. Through the hazy atmosphere and the low lights, her gaze fell on a familiar face. She was surprised when recognition clicked in.
    Jackson.
    Her mind instantly flashed back to the rainy day, standing by the grave, his sunglasses covering his eyes.
    She tried to push the sickening memory back, tried to cover it, but she had few other memories of the muscular man to replace it with. There’d been pictures of this man as a boy, standing beside Tim at the creek or at family gatherings. There’d been stories she’d heard second-hand from Tim, memories he’d shared. She and Tim had seen him at the gas station a few months after they’d started dating. She’d been introduced briefly, hearing promises the two men would find time to get together.
    Life, as always, got in the way.
    Other than that, the man was practically a stranger to her. The only personal encounter she’d had with him was seven months ago, four months before her life went to shit. It had been a time she thought nothing bad could happen to her. The seemingly inconsequential moment now meant everything because it was a moment when Tim was still hers.
    _______________
    Sophia trudged through the mall, shopping bags loading her arms. It was a Thursday night, and she was off from the shop. Tim was staying late for a meeting at work, so she’d decided to do a little retail