✧Goodbye Home✧
816 Words
The next two weeks passed faster than Flora expected.
One moment she was staring at a mysterious scholarship letter. The next, her bedroom was covered with clothes, books, notebooks, and half-packed boxes.
"How does one person own this much stuff?" Amelia asked, stepping carefully around a pile of books.
Flora looked up from her suitcase.
"This isn't stuff."
"It looks like stuff."
"It's important."
Amelia picked up a mystery novel.
"You need seven mystery books?"
"Actually, that's the emergency stack."
"The emergency stack?"
"In case I run out of mysteries."
Amelia shook her head and laughed.
"You are unbelievable."
Flora grinned.
She loved making her mother laugh.
Especially lately.
As exciting as Rica Academy sounded, she knew Amelia was nervous about her leaving.
Truthfully...
Flora was nervous too.
She had never lived away from home before.
Never attended a boarding school.
Never been this far from her mother.
But she refused to admit that out loud.
Instead, she focused on packing.
And asking questions.
Lots of questions.
Questions nobody seemed able to answer.
Questions like:
Where exactly was Rica Academy?
And why did the transportation instructions simply say:
A representative will meet you on the morning of departure.
What kind of school did that?
The night before she left, Flora couldn't sleep.
She lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
Moonlight spilled through her window.
Everything felt different.
Tomorrow she would leave home.
Tomorrow she would start a completely new life.
The thought was exciting.
And terrifying.
Mostly exciting.
Probably.
Maybe.
Flora groaned and rolled over.
There was no point trying to sleep.
She climbed out of bed and wandered downstairs.
To her surprise, she found Amelia sitting at the kitchen table.
A mug of tea rested beside her.
"You can't sleep either?" Flora asked.
Amelia smiled.
"No."
Flora sat across from her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
The house felt unusually quiet.
Finally Amelia reached across the table and squeezed Flora's hand.
"I'm proud of you."
Flora looked down.
"Even if I accidentally get expelled?"
Amelia laughed.
"Especially if you accidentally get expelled."
"That's very supportive."
"I try."
Flora smiled.
Then her expression softened.
"I'll miss you."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Amelia's eyes widened slightly.
Then she smiled.
"I'll miss you too."
For a few seconds, neither spoke.
Neither wanted to ruin the moment.
Then Flora suddenly pointed at her.
"No crying tomorrow."
Amelia gasped.
"I wasn't planning to cry."
"Good."
"Because neither was I."
"Excellent."
Both of them knew they were lying.
The next morning arrived far too quickly.
Flora stood outside her house with a suitcase at her feet.
The sky was bright blue.
Birds chirped in the distance.
Everything looked completely normal.
Which somehow made things feel even stranger.
A mysterious academy.
A mysterious scholarship.
A mysterious journey.
And yet her neighborhood looked exactly the same.
Flora checked the road again.
Nothing.
No bus.
No car.
No driver.
She frowned.
"What if they forgot me?"
"They didn't forget you," Amelia said.
"What if they did?"
"They didn't."
"What if—"
A low rumbling sound interrupted her.
Both of them turned.
A sleek black vehicle slowly approached.
It wasn't a bus.
It wasn't a taxi.
It looked more like something belonging to a wealthy government official.
The vehicle stopped directly in front of them.
A tall man stepped out.
He wore a dark suit and round glasses.
He looked serious enough to arrest someone.
The man glanced at a small notebook.
Then at Flora.
"Miss Flora Faye?"
Flora swallowed.
"Depends."
The man blinked.
"Depends?"
"Are you here to give me good news or bad news?"
For the first time, the man looked slightly confused.
Amelia covered her mouth to hide a smile.
Finally the man said,
"I am here to escort you to Rica Academy."
Flora grinned.
"Good news it is."
The man sighed quietly.
As if he already knew this journey was going to be difficult.
A few minutes later, Flora hugged her mother tightly.
Longer than either of them expected.
When they finally stepped apart, Amelia brushed a strand of hair from Flora's face.
"Take care of yourself."
"I will."
"And stay out of trouble."
Flora opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
"Okay, that one might be difficult."
Amelia laughed.
Then, before either of them could get emotional again, Flora picked up her suitcase and headed toward the vehicle.
She climbed inside.
The door closed behind her.
Through the window, she saw Amelia waving.
Flora waved back.
As the car pulled away, she watched her home grow smaller and smaller.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
Part excitement.
Part fear.
Part sadness.
And part something else.
Something she couldn't explain.
As if she were heading toward something important.
Something that had been waiting for her.
Far ahead, beyond the winding roads and distant hills, Rica Academy awaited.
And with it...
The first of many mysteries.
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