**Chapter 7: Countdown to Departure**

The morning sunlight streaming through the windows highlighted the mix of emotions on Sabrina's face as she stood in the kitchen, her eyes fixed on the calendar on the fridge. Nick and Maya sat at the table, sipping their coffee and watching her with concern. The countdown had officially begun, and the reality of Sabrina's impending departure was starting to sink in. Sabrina took a deep breath and turned to face them, a determined look on her face. "I think I need to get going," she said, her voice firm. "I have a lot to do today, and I want to make sure I'm ready for the tour." Nick and Maya exchanged a look, and Nick felt a pang of sadness. He knew that today was the day Sabrina would start to get busier, and their time together would start to dwindle. Maya got up and walked over to Sabrina, putting her arms around her. "We'll make the most of today," she said. "We'll do something special, just the three of us." Sabrina smiled, and Nick could see the tension in her body start to ease. As they finished their coffee, Nick had an idea. "Let's go to the beach," he said, his eyes shining with excitement. "We can spend the day soaking up the sun and making memories." Sabrina's face lit up, and Maya nodded enthusiastically. The three of them quickly grabbed their bags and headed out the door, the warm sunshine and cool ocean breeze a perfect antidote to the anxiety and sadness that had been building up inside them. As they walked along the beach, hand in hand, Nick felt a sense of peace wash over him. This was what he wanted to remember – the feeling of being with the people he loved, in a beautiful place, with no worries or cares. As they walked, Sabrina started to open up about her tour, sharing stories about her music and her plans for the performances. Nick and Maya listened intently, asking questions and offering words of encouragement. The hours flew by, and before they knew it, the sun was starting to set. As they sat on a blanket, watching the stars come out, Sabrina turned to Nick and Maya with tears in her eyes. "I'm going to miss you guys so much," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Nick pulled her into a hug, holding her close. "We'll be here, waiting for you," he said. "And we'll be counting down the days until you return." Maya pulled out a small notebook and pen, and started to write. "I'll start," she said, smiling at Nick and Sabrina. "Dear Sabrina, today was an amazing day. I'm so grateful for the time we have left together." Nick nodded, and started to write his own letter, the words flowing easily onto the page. As they wrote, the stars twinkled above them, and the sound of the waves crashed against the shore. It was a moment of perfect peace, and Nick knew that he would treasure it forever. The countdown had begun, but in this moment, they were together, and that was all that mattered. As they finished writing, Sabrina looked up at the stars, a smile on her face. "I feel like I'm going to be okay," she said, her voice filled with conviction. "I know that I'll be able to do this, and that I'll be back with you guys before I know it." Nick and Maya exchanged a look, and Nick felt a sense of hope and anticipation. They would get through this, together.