That morning, Alyx found herself awake early, mentally preparing how to break the news of her departure from the apartment to Marshall. There, she was found by Robin and Ted, who were leaving his room for a date.
"Good morning, Alyx." "Hi, Alyx," greeted Ted and Robin.
"Hi, guys, how are you?" she said, emerging from her thoughts with a slight sigh.
"You okay?" asked Ted, seeing her strange posture.
"Yes, just thinking."
"Sure?" asked Robin, approaching the sofa.
"Yeah, I..." she didn't finish when Marshall came out of his room. "Good morning," he greeted with a brief yawn.
He then briefly recounted to the group his previous night with Barney and his encounter with Lily. Hearing that Lily only sought out Marshall to ask him to get back together made Alyx feel sad and uncomfortable—it seemed that, as she thought, she was just an add-on to their equation, not an integral and equal part of it.
This gave her strength as soon as Robin and Ted left.
She took a deep breath. It was time.
"Marshall," she said, her voice strangely serene. "I need to talk to you. It's serious."
He looked up, confused by her tone. She motioned with her head toward his room, since it was better not to be interrupted in the middle of this conversation by Ted, Robin, or even Barney returning. Once inside with the door closed, Alyx leaned against the dresser.
"I'm moving out," she said without preamble.
Marshall blinked. "What? Where? Why?"
"To an apartment in Williamsburg. It's time."
"Time for what? Alyx, this… is because of Lily, isn't it? Because of what I told you about her coming back. I... You don't have to leave. Things are… weird, but…"
"It's not just because of Lily," she interrupted softly. "It's for me. I've spent months taking care of you, Marshall. Holding you up, and I love you, I really do. I know you know that.
But through all this, I… I've lost myself in the process. I became what you needed, and I couldn't be fully myself."
"I understand I was a burden and I'm selfish, but what am I without you here?" The question came out childish and so vulnerable it broke her heart.
"You're Marshall Eriksen," she said firmly. "You're a budding lawyer, the man who last night told 'no' to the woman who shattered his heart because he understood she was right. That man doesn't need a babysitter. He just needs to learn to fly on his own."
"And what about us?" he asked, his voice breaking, his eyes glassy.
"We'll still be us, but not like before—from a healthy distance. I promise I won't disappear from your life completely. But I need my own space."
Marshall looked at her seriously, and in his eyes, Alyx saw he understood. That deep down, he knew she was right. He nodded slowly and asked, "When?"
"Tomorrow. I already signed."
A silence fell until Marshall stood up and hugged her—a strong hug full of gratitude, affection, and farewell. "You're the best person I know, A.L.," he murmured against her shoulder.
Alyx closed her eyes, holding back tears. "You too, Marshmallow."
The rest of the day, Alyx dedicated herself to packing. With utmost care, she packed her computer and laptop in boxes with foam padding.
Marshall silently helped her pack her clothes and shoes into her suitcase and boxes. They were each focused on their tasks, with brief chats about where to store what. Alyx packed a few pots and kitchen utensils, though not many. What she couldn't be without was her powerful coffee maker.
That's how it went—there were only brief pauses to reorganize some more important things. In the afternoon, a small moving van arrived to take the desk, coffee maker, computer, and the heavier, larger clothes and shoes they had packed. Marshall and Alyx went together to Alyx's new home. He helped her carry her heavy things up with the movers. And he saw the apartment; he glimpsed brief flashes of the same memories with Alyx and Lily—Lily telling him what kind of place she would love to live in: full of light, with a private balcony to paint outdoors, with a kitchen—though open in its space—with countertops and cabinets for utensils. It was so to Lily's taste that Marshall couldn't help but look at Alyx with pity and understanding as she concentrated on setting up her computer.
But he wasn't able to say anything to her, because he understood that although he had already gone through the pain of losing Lily, Alyx seemed to be moving into Lily's dream home to live in seclusion for the rest of her life.
After briefly arranging the new apartment, they returned to what was now Ted and Marshall's shared apartment, as they had agreed that Alyx would move into her new home tomorrow and tonight they would have dinner together as a farewell.
Upon returning, Marshall decided to call Ted and Robin to say goodbye to Alyx, but they were on their couple adventures and didn't answer. He thought about calling Barney, but he didn't want the farewell to be awkward. So they ate burgers they ordered for delivery, chatting about trivial things and watching low-quality TV—a moment they hadn't shared in so long that Marshall felt remorse and sadness for not being with her before, and for being so consumed with his own pain over Lily when just a few steps away was someone he loved and who had also had her heart broken by their other love.
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