_Avery's POV_
The sound of my father loading our suitcases into the trunk of the car felt final, like the closing of a door that would never open again. Each thud of a bag hitting the metal made my chest tighten. I stood by the front steps, gripping the strap of my backpack so tightly my knuckles turned white.
This was really happening.
I turned to look at my mother. She stood silently beside me, her gaze locked on our house—the home we were leaving behind. I wanted to say something to comfort her, but I didn’t know what. Nothing could take away the pain of being exiled from everything we had ever known.
My father slammed the trunk shut. “Let’s go.” His voice was gruff, tired. He didn’t look at me as he walked toward the driver’s seat.
I climbed into the car, my heart heavy. The packh
