Chapter one
1014 Words
Lilith pov
“Did you remember to pack everything, sweetie?” my mom asked, worry filling her amber eyes.
“Yes, Mother,” I replied with a chuckle as I placed the last of my shirts into a box. “You’ve asked me that about ten times today.”
“I’m sorry, honey.” She sighed. “I’m just so nervous. My last baby is leaving the nest.” Tears began to well in her eyes.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll be back to visit,” I reassured her. “Besides, you still have Dad!”
“Oh, God!” she cried dramatically.
My dad walked up behind her, laughing as he kissed the top of her golden-brown hair.
“This is the last of it,” my older brother said as he carried the final box down the wooden stairs.
“Thanks,” I grunted, reaching for it.
“Whoa, let me help you with that,” my dad said, stepping around my mom to take the box from my hands.
“I swear,” I laughed. “I can’t do anything in this house.”
“Well, of course not. You’re my little princess.” He kissed my forehead before carrying the box outside.
I shook my head before walking over to my mom. Her eyes were still red and puffy from crying.
“Hey, Mom.” I gently rested a hand on her shoulder. “I’m going to be fine. I know you’re worried.”
“I know.” She smiled sadly. “It’s just… you’re my little girl. Well, not so little anymore.” She laughed through her tears. “It’s hard watching you leave the nest. But I want what’s best for you… and your brother, even if he is a bit of a dodo.”
I laughed before wrapping my arms around her.
“I’m going to miss you so much, Mom.”
“I’m going to miss you too, my little sweet face.”
I leaned back just enough to look at her.
“‘Sweet face?’ Really, Mom?”
She smiled.
“I’m sorry, but you’ll always be my sweet face.”
Rolling my eyes, I hugged her again.
“Hey, Mrs. J! Lilith!” a familiar voice called, interrupting our moment.
“Oh, hey, Ari!” Mom said as she stepped away from me.
“Ari!” I squealed, running over to pull her into a tight hug. “I’m so excited!”
“I know!” she laughed. “I’m going to show you around. I know that side of town like the back of my hand.”
“I’m going to leave you two alone,” Mom said. “I’m going to see if the boys need any help.”
“Okay, Mom!” I called as she headed out the front door.
“Come upstairs with me,” I said, glancing at Ari. “I want to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind.”
“Oh, go ahead, darling. I’ll meet you up there in a minute.” She grinned. “I’m going dig in your fridge real quick and eat some of your family’s food first.”
I laughed and continued upstairs, shaking my head.
With every step, memories flooded my mind.
My first tooth falling out.
Playing baseball with my brother in the backyard and hitting my very first home run.
My first sleepover.
Every memory echoed through the house as I reached the top of the stairs.
At the end of the hallway sat my bedroom.
I slowly pushed open the door.
Gone were the posters covering the walls, the scattered clothes, and the makeup cluttering my dresser.
I slowly walked around my room, letting my fingers trail across the bare walls. The room was empty, almost lifeless.
“This room looks so much bigger without all my stuff,” I whispered to myself.
Everything that had once made this room feel like mine was gone.
I opened my walk in closet one last time, scanning the empty shelves and rods. As I glanced toward the top shelf, I noticed something dangling over the edge. Frowning, I rose onto my tiptoes and reached for it.
The moment my fingertips caught the fabric, it slipped free and landed gently across my face. My old purple scarf.
“How could I forget this?” I whispered with a small sad smile.
Bringing it to my face, I inhaled deeply. It always smelled… Different. Not like my room. Not like my house there was something comforting about it that smelled like… home. I sat there for a moment taking in the scent.
“Hey, hoe.” Ari said behind me I nearly jumped out of my skin.
Spinning around, I found her standing in the doorway of my walk in closet with an ice cream sandwich in her hand.
“The truck’s all loaded up. Let’s get this show on the road.” She said taking a bite out of it
She took another bite of her ice cream as if she hadn’t just scared me half to death.
After one last glance around my room, I smiled.
“Yeah… let’s go.” I said folding the scarf in my hands
When we made it outside, I hugged each member of my family one last time. Mom reminded me over and over to call her every day. I noticed her staring at the scarf folded in my arm.
And after promising her the 100th time that I would as I climbed into the passenger seat of the car. Placing my old folded scarf on my lap
As Ari climbed into the driver’s seat of the moving truck, I took one last look at my childhood home.
My parents and brother stood in the doorway, waving.
I waved back before they slowly disappeared inside.
Taking a deep breath, I turned toward my future.
Ari started the engine and grinned at me, her green eyes shimmered in the sunlight
“Okay, girl,” she said. “Let’s go have some real fun.”
- Writer
