Dreams or Reality

Road Trip

"Phew," I wiped the sweat from my forehead as I placed the last box into the moving van that contained all our other things from my childhood home. I glanced back at the old house before turning my gaze back to the van. I knew better than to stare. I grew up there and to leave is like leaving a piece of me behind. My eyes filled with unshed tears when memories flashed in my mind. The sound of my mom's voice, her angelic laughter, the happiness that shined in her eyes.

My mother was truly amazing. She disappeared suddenly, vanished into thin air. Everyone says she's dead, but until I find her body, I refuse to believe so. Some people say I'm in denial, I like to think of it as perseverance.

"MILLIE!!" I was startled by the shout of my little sister. I quickly blinked away the remaining tears and turned around to face the little dare devil. "Millie, I need help!" I bubbled with laughter when I finally saw her.

"Ley-ley! What in the world?" She grinned sheepishly at me. It had rained earlier that morning and the ground was still wet. Marley decided to roll around in the mud puddle in the yard, barefoot, with her shirt inside out, and her shorts backwards. "You are in need of a serious bath." I smiled, "However, I don't think Dad would appreciate you getting dirt everywhere." I slowly inched over to the garden hose.

She shook her head and glanced down at herself, "I don't think so either." I picked up the hose and turned on the faucet.

"Well then, let's do something about that." I squeezed the handle and water sprayed everywhere as I aimed it at her. She laughed and ran away.

"Millie!" She giggled my name as I chased her around the yard. We both fell into the mud puddle and scooped up the wet dirt and threw it at each other. I screamed playfully when Marley jumped on me, and I let her tackle me to the ground.

"Ley-ley!" I mimicked her, and she squealed when I started to tickle her sides. Eventually, we got tired and she laid on top of me as I propped myself against the tree. I held her close, not bothering to scratch off the itchy mud from my skin. I'm going to miss this place so much.

As if reading my thoughts, Marley looked up at me. "Milly, I don't want to leave." I smiled at her and ran my fingers through her dirty hair. "Me neither, but I guess it's for the better. Bittersweet I suppose."

She frowned at me. "What does bittersweet mean?"

"It means a bunch of different things, but in our case, it means that it's sad to move to someplace new, but it's a good thing to get a change of scenery. Especially since...." I trailed off. I didn't want to bring up mom, it makes her cry, which makes me cry.

"Oh," She looked down at my chest, playing with my necklace.

"Come on, no more sad faces." I stood up with Marley in my arms and walked into the house. I headed for her bathroom and helped her get undressed and bathed her, then after dressing her I turned on a movie. "Try and think of things to do on the way." She nodded her head at me, engrossed in the TV.

Before I showered, I made sure that her tablet and my phone were charging before heading up to my room. I shut and locked the door, grabbed a pair of shorts and an oversized shirt and went into the bathroom. I tossed my clothes onto the sink, before shedding my dirty ones.

I turned the shower knob to the hottest setting and walked into the cubicle after giving it a chance to warm up. I watched the dirt wash off me and into the drain. It's so tempting to break right now, but I refuse. If I start to shatter, then I'll never be able to pick up the pieces, not this time. Besides, it’s not like mom is actually gone. There’s still a chance that she’s alive out there. I only have to be strong until she comes back.

I finished washing my hair and body, and dried off with my fluffy towel. Normally, I would go through a whole routine to dry my hair, but I’m too tired. So instead, I towel-dryed it, before weaving it into a french braid. I donned my clothes and walked out of the bathroom, releasing the steam into my room. I walked down the hallway to check on Marley. She was still sitting there, oblivious to the world around her. I smiled, watching her.

She resembles our mom with her blonde hair and brown eyes, while I get my genes from my dad with his brown hair and hazel eyes. Me and Marley both have curly hair, courtesy of our mother.

I don't know who my real dad is, but my stepdad, Marley's dad, has been a wonderful father figure since I could remember. He’s never shown me any discrimination and I love him as much as I love my mom. I think the whole reason we're moving is because he can't stand to be in this house without my mother. I can relate to him, but it's still hard to leave the house behind. I have so many memories here: All my Christmas’, birthdays, Halloweens, my entire childhood.

I was once again startled from my thoughts when my dad honked the horn. I walked past Marley to turn off the TV. "Go get in the truck, it's time to go." Thankfully, she didn't argue and went peacefully. I walked around the house, grabbed my backpack that contained a spare change of clothes for me and Marley and other necessities, snatched my phone and Marley's tablet from the table, put the chargers into a side pocket in the bag, and walked out the house.

I closed the front door and slid the house keys under the mat for the realtor. I opened the back door and slid into my seat. The whole backseat was filled with blankets and pillows and snacks. I took one last look at my home before I turned to Marley.

"Road Trip!"