Me-Before-You-by-Jojo-Moyes

My voice broke into the conversation. ‘Actually,’ I said – I was already
pulling my luggage from the trolley – ‘I think I’m going to head off. Thank you,
anyway.’
I was focused on my bag, deliberately not looking at them, but even above the
hubbub of the airport I could detect the brief silence my words provoked.
Mr Traynor’s voice was the first to break it. ‘Come on, Louisa. Let’s have a
little celebration. We want to hear all about your adventures. I want to know all
about the island. And I promise you don’t have to tell us everything.’ He almost
chuckled.
‘Yes.’ Mrs Traynor’s voice had a faint edge to it. ‘Do come, Louisa.’
‘No.’ I swallowed, tried to raise a bland smile. My sunglasses were a shield.
‘Thank you. I’d really rather get back.’
‘To where?’ said Will.
I realized what he was saying. I didn’t really have anywhere to go.
‘I’ll go to my parents’ house. It will be fine.’
‘Come with us,’ he said. His voice was gentle. ‘Don’t go, Clark. Please.’
I wanted to cry then. But I knew with utter certainty that I couldn’t be
anywhere near him. ‘No. Thank you. I hope you have a lovely meal.’ I hoisted
my bag over my shoulder and, before anyone could say anything else, I was
walking away from them, swallowed up by the crowds in the terminal.
I was almost at the bus stop when I heard her. Camilla Traynor, her heels
clipping on the pavement, half walked, half ran towards me.
‘Stop. Louisa. Please stop.’
I turned, and she was forcing her way through a coach party, casting the
backpacking teenagers aside like Moses parting the waves. The airport lights
were bright on her hair, turning it a kind of copper colour. She was wearing a
fine grey pashmina, which draped artistically over one shoulder. I remember
thinking absently how beautiful she must have been, only a few years earlier.
‘Please. Please stop.’
I stopped, glancing behind me at the road, wishing that the bus would appear
now, that it would scoop me up and take me away. That anything would happen.
A small earthquake, maybe.
‘Louisa?’