Ayanna Quintan

I looked out of the passenger window of my mothers car. People with luggage were rushing past scared to miss their flight. I could see some families reuniting as well as some others, like me, saying goodbye.  The loud slam and shake of the car brought me out of my thoughts. My mother dragged my suitcases from the car boot until they stood beside my door.  She looked back through the window at me, an encouraging smile crept onto her face as she nodded her head. That was her way of telling me that it was time.  I slowly stepped out of her old car, I was savoring the moment since I wasn't sure when I would next be seated inside the old rust bucket.  "It'll just be a few months" my mother cooed  She kept telling me that but I could tell she was just as unconvinced by that statement as I was. We both knew it would be longer, but how much longer I wasn't sure.  "please..."  "Ayanna, don't make this more difficult please" "I just don't understand why I have to go"  My mothers gaze dropped to the floor. She was yet to give me a straight reason as why I was being sent away to live with a brother I didn't even know.  I have very little memory of him as a child but a few things stood out as I thought back to him. I remember him having bright blonde hair and piercing blue eyes but if he still had those features, I didn't know.  I haven't spoken to my brother since he left with my father when I was just five. The day they both moved away was the last time I had spoken or seen either of them.   In fact, they were barely even mentioned until a week ago when my mother got a phone call telling her that my father was dead. Some sort of car accident my mother told me. It was only after that call that my mother decided I urgently needed to move in with my brother. I just wish someone would tell me why I have to leave my whole life behind. "It'll be good for you to catch up with you're brother darling"  "Then why aren't you coming too? I thought you would've loved to see you're own son" "It's complicated..."  I could hear the heart break in her voice. I just wish I could help solve what ever the problem was. I just wanted her to talk to me. "You should get going, make sure you message me when you get on the plane and when you're brother picks you up"  "Yeah, I will" She quickly pulled me into a bone crushing hug. I wrapped my arms around her as I heard a sob leave her mouth.  "I love you" she told me as she released me  "I love you too"  Knowing there was nothing more I could do, I took a hold of my suit cases and began my walk to the terminal.  I can't believe this happening, How did life end up like this? *****  I made my way off the plane, purposely making my pace slow hoping to postpone the moment that I couldn't avoid. Meeting my brother. I sure hoped he knew what I looked like because I had no clue who I was supposed to be looking for. I stood there gazing my eyes over the surrounding people hoping to find Ambrose.  "Ayanna?"  My heart momentarily stopped before I turned slowly until I came face to face with the voices owner. His bright blonde hair was now a dull dark blonde, it could be considered a light brown but his eyes remained the same bright blue that I remembered as a child. He had grown into a handsome young man, tall and broad.  "Ambrose?"  My voice came out cracked revealing my nerves. "Hey... little sis" He smiled just as nervous  Just like me he was unsure of what to do but then he awkwardly pulled me into a hug. It took me a second to understand what was happening before I wrapped my arms back around him.  It was like we were meeting for the first time. He released me and quickly grabbed the suitcases that were stationed beside me.  "Lets get going shall we?"  I nodded in agreement and began following him to the airport exit. He then directed me towards his large black Jeep. He effortlessly packed my belongings in the back before taking his position in the drivers seat. The start of the journey was in silence. There was so much that needed to be said but neither of us wanted to say any of it. Instead I examined the interior of the jeep, all black matt with a few cool LED lights lining the footwell. He must've had a damn good job to afford a vehicle like this.  "I'm sorry about dad"  The words left my mouth before I could even think. Our father had raised him so they must've been close and I didn't want to appear unsensitive.  He looked surprised at first then looked at me with some sort of guilt.  "Me too, Ayanna, Me too" he whispered while looking back out to the road ahead.  We pulled onto the driveway of a decent sized house, the garden was kept tidy, grass cut short and flowers lined the exterior. I for some reason didn't imagine Ambrose's house to look this pretty.  I made my way to the door just like Ambrose instructed while he grabbed my belongings. "I guess I should show you you're room first"  "sure"  I followed him up the stairs and into my new bedroom. It was bigger then my room at home, it was decorated a white color but the bedding on my new double bed was a very light pink.    "I'll leave you settle yourself in, I'll be downstairs making us some food"  He smiled my way while scratching the back of his neck. "Thank you Ambrose"  He nodded accepting my gratitude. "welcome home" he added on before walking out the room.  But this wasn't my home.