THE FIVE OF US

Chapter 8: Goodbye, Home

The morning sunlight slipped through the curtains and settled gently across my room.

For a few moments, I lay still, staring at the ceiling.

This was it.

The day I had been praying for.

The day I was finally leaving for college.

Instead of jumping out of bed like I had imagined I would, I found myself looking around my room.

The cream-colored walls, my small bookshelf, the framed family picture on my study table, even the window where I usually stood whenever I wanted to think.

Everything suddenly felt different.

I slowly got out of bed and folded my blanket before walking to the window.

The street outside was already coming alive. Children were chasing one another, a woman was sweeping her compound, and a familiar food vendor pushed her cart down the road.

It looked like every other morning.

But for me, nothing felt ordinary.

A soft knock came from my door.

"Come in," I said.

The door opened, and Mum walked in with a warm smile.

Leilah looked at me for a moment before speaking.

"So... today's the day."

I smiled.

"Looks like it."

She walked over and gently adjusted the collar of my T-shirt.

"I couldn't even sleep well last night," she admitted with a small laugh.

"Why?"

She looked at me.

"I kept thinking about how quiet this house is going to become."

I wrapped my arms around her.

"Mum, I'm not moving to another country."

Leilah laughed softly, but Chloe could feel her hug tighten.

"I know," she whispered. "It just feels like yesterday you were following me around the salon, asking a thousand questions."

Chloe smiled.

"I still ask a thousand questions."

"You do," Leilah replied, laughing. "But now you ask bigger ones."

The two of them stayed like that for a few seconds before Leilah gently pulled away.

"Come downstairs," she said. "Breakfast is ready."

"I'll be there in a minute."

Leilah nodded before leaving the room.

Chloe looked around one last time before picking up her bag and following her downstairs.

The dining table was unusually quiet.

Dad sat at one end, pretending to read the newspaper.

Her two younger brothers sat opposite each other, unusually calm.

Chloe frowned.

"What happened here?"

One of her brothers shrugged dramatically.

"Nothing."

The younger one sighed.

"We're just wondering who's going to finish all the snacks you hide in your room."

Chloe burst into laughter.

"So that's what you're worried about?"

"Of course," he replied, trying to sound serious. "It's an important issue."

Dad lowered his newspaper and smiled.

"You two should allow your sister to eat first."

They all laughed.

The atmosphere immediately became lighter.

As they ate, the conversation moved from one topic to another.

Her brothers reminded her not to forget them when she became "a big university student."

Dad joked that he expected free accounting advice in a few years.

Even Mum joined in, laughing more than she spoke.

But Chloe noticed something.

Every now and then, Leilah would quietly look at her.

Almost as if she was trying to memorize her face.

After breakfast, everyone helped carry Chloe's bags outside.

The driver had already arrived.

The car waited patiently in front of the house.

The cheerful atmosphere from breakfast slowly disappeared.

"This is happening too fast," Mum said quietly.

Chloe looked at her.

"I'll be coming home."

"I know."

Leilah smiled, but her eyes had already become watery.

"It's just... a mother never really gets used to watching her child leave."

Without saying another word, Chloe hugged her tightly.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Leilah gently rubbed her back.

"For what?"

"For believing in me... even when I stopped believing in myself."

Leilah pulled back and cupped Chloe's face.

"There was never a day your father and I stopped believing in you."

Tears gathered in Chloe's eyes.

She quickly blinked them away.

Dad walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm proud of you."

Those four words were enough.

Chloe threw her arms around him.

"I'll make you proud," she whispered.

"I already am."

Her younger brothers stood a few steps away, suddenly unsure of what to say.

The older one cleared his throat.

"So... you're really leaving."

Chloe smiled.

"I'll come back before you have enough peace to miss me."

He laughed before pulling her into a hug.

"You'd better."

The younger brother joined them immediately.

"And don't forget our gifts."

Chloe laughed through her tears.

"I won't."

Just as Chloe picked up her bag, her phone began to ring.

She wiped her eyes before answering.

"Hello?"

"Please don't tell me you're still in bed."

Chloe smiled as soon as she heard Ava's voice.

"I'm actually standing outside my house."

Ava laughed.

"Good. I was beginning to think I'd have to come and drag you to school myself."

Chloe looked at her family, who were still standing nearby.

"You'd have arrived at the wrong time."

"Why?"

"My family has turned my departure into an emotional ceremony."

Ava laughed softly.

"I can imagine."

There was a brief silence before Ava spoke again.

"My dad and I just left home."

Chloe smiled.

"Really?"

"Yes. We should get to campus before noon."

"I'll be there soon."

"I'm looking forward to seeing you."

"Me too."

After ending the call, Chloe slipped her phone into her bag.

Dad opened the car door for her.

She hugged everyone one last time before getting in.

As the car slowly pulled away, Chloe rolled down the window.

Her family stood at the gate, waving until the car disappeared down the street.

Chloe kept looking back for as long as she could.

Then she turned her face forward.

A new chapter of her life had just begun.