A weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I felt free for the first time in my life, so much for living in the United States of America. It took me nearly three decades to get even a taste of freedom. The air is much sweeter tonight as I walked out into it. Discarding the horrible wrap my mother insisted I wear with this dress. I needed to change my clothes. This dress was not going to work for me, to formal. I needed to strip free of the life I'm leaving behind.

I jumped in the front seat of the town car and took Gary by surprise. "Bella... why are you not in there? This is your rehearsal dinner. Your parents are going to be livid-"

"Drive Gary drive!! I will explain." I said quickly cutting him off. Just as he started the car I rambled on about what happened, what I chose, and what I was about to do.

"It's so refreshing to see that sparkle back in your eyes. I missed seeing that."

"I can't believe I'm about to do this." I was nervous.

"Call Andre, he will know exactly what to do and how to get it arranged."

I waited and waited for him to pick up the phone as it continued to ring. I thought maybe he was not going to answer the phone. After all, I promised him I would think of myself and I didn't. I took his advice to heart but I couldn't manage to put one foot in front of another and put actions to the words.

 I left Justin's apartment this morning and I had all intentions of go right back into his arms. But I couldn't figure out how I was going to end the wedding. I didn't want to promise Justin anything before I knew exactly what I was going to do. I knew that I loved him. I knew that I wanted to spend forever with Justin but I couldn't hurt him again. I couldn't pull that rug from out under him again.

I stood over the bed looking at him, watching him sleep. I wanted to watch him sleep for the next fifty years. I leaned down and kissed the side of his face which was covered in stubbles. I loved that scruffiness on him. It was sexy, in only a way they he can make it sexy.

Sitting in the cab I knew my choice of leaving while he was still sleeping wasn't the brightest choice I had made but I had already made it and I was going to prove to him that he was what I wanted and he was the one I wanted to spend forever with. I didn't have to marry him to be happy. I could carry the Kinsey last night the rest of my life and not think twice about his love for me. I knew that no matter what happens from this day forward, our love would never be at question.

"Arabella? Is there something wrong?" the male voice echoes on the other end of the phone.

"Andre... I need your help." I said relived that he answered.

"Anything... are you okay?" he questioned.

"I have never been happier." I expressed.

After hearing what he had to say I agreed to meet him in a couple hours. Nervous I knew this is what I had to do. I had to make sure he knew exactly how I felt. I sat down and wrote some of my thoughts. Word after word the sentences seemed to flow together. I looked down at the sheet of paper and saw the words that expressed all of my feelings. I felt accomplished, and it had nothing to do with being a doctor or a Kinsey for that matter.

I packed up everything I could out of my room. I was going to be gone before anyone knew it. I heard my parents and my sister down the hallway arguing back and forth, their voices getting louder and louder but I tried not to pay attention to anything they were saying. I didn't want any of their words to hurt and change my mind. Even though I was sure it wouldn't make a difference.

I walked down the back staircase to the garage and placed a couple boxes in the car. Luckily I had several oversized tote bags that I filled with as much clothing I could fit. I didn't know how long it would be before I came back to this house, if ever.

My most prized possession these days is a book that I had hid from the world for too long. My sketch book was placed in the bag with my laptop and I was ready to go. I turned to look at the room one last time. Many years have been spent in this room but it was the beginning of something new.

I walked back down that same flight of stairs, placing my laptop bag on the front seat of the car. Turning to pick up the last bag I see my mother standing in the doorway. She had been crying. Her eyes were puffy and she had that shaky voice as she began to speak.

"Where are you going Arabella?" She asked.

"I'm not sure just yet...I can't stay here. I know that my choices are not what you wanted but that's the way real life is sometimes." I paused. I didn't need to explain anything to her. "Andre said I could crash at his apartment if I needed to."

"What about this Justin guy, where does he come into the picture. How does he feel knowing that he has torn you away from your family? Does that make him feel good about himself?"

"I'm going to be with Justin with or without the approval of you. I have found love. Real love and if you can't accept me for who I am and who I choose to be with, I'm sorry but that's something you will have to learn to live with."

"I can't believe you are choosing this guy over your family. I can't believe that this is the option you are choosing." My mother was attempting to make me regret my choice, but I had no regrets.

"For the first time in my life, I have options. And it feels great." I picked up the bag and placed it into the back seat. "I choose Justin. I choose happiness. I choose me."

                "You will regret this choice Arabella. You will regret choosing a man over your family."

I got in the car, rolled down the window. "I know I won't regret it. Because even if something happens with my relationship with Justin I know that I did this all for me. I'm in charge of my own destiny." I pressed the button for the garage door to open and I back out of the driveway.

I slowed down when I saw Gary standing next to the gate. "Love ya Gary! Take care of yourself."

"Bella, don't worry about me. Take care of yourself... I better get an invite to your wedding!" he winks at me.

"It could be years Gary!"

"I will wait years to see you get married. But at least this time it will be because it's what you have chosen!"

I drove out of that driveway and never thought once that I was making a mistake. I knew that this is what I had to do for me.

"Bella, this is Kevin... and this is Dave." Andre introduces me to the guys. "They are going to help you out tonight." They both reached out to me and shook my hand. "So explain to them what you are going to do."

I exhaled deeply and began to speak. They listened to every word I had to say. It was weird to have people that don't know me have such in interest in what I was saying.

A small club in the heart of Manhattan is packed from wall to wall. There was an exclusive show tonight. It was a VIP only show. Only Justin's biggest fans had tickets for this show. The crowd was going to be particularly critical tonight. What was I thinking? I walked onto his stage and stood in front of his microphone as the dark club suddenly draws their attention to the stage. A dim light starts to get brighter and the spotlight is on me. I couldn't believe I was doing this.

This is for Justin... I kept repeating to myself. This is for Justin.

 "Hi everyone." I said awkwardly as a crowd of a couple hundred stare back at me. "I'm Bells." I threw up my hand slightly to acknowledge the crowd, who sat quietly staring at this unknown person standing on the stage that Justin is supposed to be standing on in less than five minutes. "So, I was at this show last night at the garden, which I'm sure all of you were there as well..." I chuckled to myself, "And the performer got on the stage had his guitar in hand and sang to me the most beautiful song I think I had ever heard in my entire life. Now I know I will never compare to him but I wrote a song for him and I would like to play it for you right now. Kevin and Dave are going t o help me out!" I scan over the audience trying to find him before I started it. Directly in front of my about half way through the club stood Justin, with his thumb handing in the pocket of his jeans watching me with a smile on his face. I smile acknowledging to him that I found him. We locked eyes as the music started to play. "This one is for you Lake. I love you."

The room got dark again before a spot light entered my face. Nerves seem to dissipate as I started to tap my foot with the music.

I can't believe I'm doing this. I thought to myself.

"Morning conversations... After making love last night... I feel the way you love me... When you're holding me so tight... The minutes aren't long enough... And forever I hope you'll stay... So much I have to tell you... So much I have to say..."

                He stands still, watching. Listening.

"When I look inside your big blue eyes... I thank god I'm still alive... Please believe... I love that were together... Please believe... I'll stay with you forever..."

                A smile comes across his face.

"Minutes turn to hours... Hours turn to days... I drive myself crazy... Whenever you're away... When I see that smile up upon your face... I know I finally found my place..."

                He starts to walk closer to the stage. I never lost his eyes as he got closer and closer to the stage.

"Please believe ... I love that were together... Please believe... I'll stay with you forever..."

                He had reached the stage, walking up the steps slowly as the crowd begins to cheer. He wrapped his large hands around the side of my face pulling me into his face. "I love you."

"I choose you. I choose whatever craziness that lies around of us. I choose you."

He steps back, "Seriously, it's all over?"

"Every single detail of it..." before I could finish his lips were on mine. He was forceful yet sensual at the same time. The crowd round us began to cheer louder. My feet left the ground as he lifts me up and my legs are wrapped around his waist. "I love you. Please believe me... I'll stay with you forever."