Chapter four
353 Words
*The morning sun spilled through the curtains of Ivy’s bedroom. She hadn’t slept—had barely even packed properly.*
Her suitcase sat open on the bed, half-full with clothes she grabbed in a daze: dresses, underwear, a few books… but nothing personal. No photos. No letters from friends cause she have none.
Her phone buzzed again—*third message from Mom:*
> **We’ll miss you so much.**
> **Call when you land.**
Why do I feel like it’s staged
she zipped up the suitcase and carried it downstairs where her father waited by the door—coat on, keys in hand.
No hugs.
No goodbyes.
Just silence.
He took her bag without a word and opened his car door for her like this was just another business trip—not sending his daughter to his brother side like a trophy .*
*The car ride to the airport was quiet—painfully so. No radio. No small talk.*
Ivy stared out the window, watching familiar streets blur into unfamiliar ones.
Her stomach twisted with every mile.
*Italy.*
*Lorenzo Medici.*
*A man she’d never met… who now held her future.*
Her father pulled up to departures and finally turned his head—just slightly—to look at her.
For a second, she thought he might say something kind.
Or hug her.
Or even tell her he loved her before she left for good…
But he didn’t.
Instead, he unbuckled his seatbelt and grabbed both suitcases from the backseat without a word.*
*Inside the terminal, travelers bustled—some laughing, others hugging goodbye. The airport buzzed with life… while Ivy felt completely still.*
Her father walked ahead of her toward check-in, his broad back blocking her view.
She followed silently in his shadow—her heart pounding louder than the airport announcements over the speakers.
> *"Flight UA802 to Rome-Fiumicino is now boarding at Gate B12."*
A cold weight settled in her chest.
That was *her flight.*
Her new beginning.
Or maybe… an ending?
She reached for her phone again—but didn’t text Mom. Didn't call anyone.
Just held it tight like an anchor.*
- Writer
