A Cruel Fate

Chapter two - The goodbye

Paige’s POV

I began setting the table, getting ready for the pizza to arrive. Precisely thirty minutes later the doorbell rang leaving me with a four-person pizza for two.

We ate the pizza while binge-watching Grey's anatomy.

My mom got hooked on the show after she found me asleep on the couch. She intended to turn off the tv but ended up staying up all night watching the rest of the season without me. I still remember waking up, seeing her on the edge of the couch, all swallowed up by George O’Malley’s death.

“Why are you crying?” I asked my mom confused as I sat up on the couch. “How can they do this? Just kill the poor guy?” She shrieked sobbing.I looked at the tv and saw what she was talking about. I covered my ears with my hands and shut my eyes.“I haven’t made it this far! No spoilers!” I screamed out while I tried to grab the remote to turn it off.“You are absolutely no fun,” my mom sighed while drying her tears.“Tell you what, we can start from the beginning and watch it together. How does that sound?” I asked her, raising my brows at my very upset mom. “I would like that very much,” she sniffled.

Ah, memories.

Always so damn dramatic.

But that's one of the reasons why I loved her so much. She wasn't just my mom. She was my best friend. I looked over at her just as she started to talk with the tv. She always makes these comments to every damn episode making me aware of the fact that she’s completely forgotten about me being in the same room as her.

God, I would miss this I thought to myself. Her goofy laugh, the way she always complained about her curls getting into her eyes, or the way she always talked to herself whenever she did anything really. I rested my head on the armrest as my eyes got heavier by the second, but I didn't want to sleep. Not yet. I wanted to save this moment, my last day at home before I had to leave.

The sound of a coffee machine made me open my eyes in confusion.

“Good morning love,” my mom chirped as she entered the living room. “I didn’t have the heart to wake you after you fell asleep yesterday,” she explained as she saw my confused expression.

“It’s okay,” I mumbled sleepily.

So much for staying awake.

I stretched my body as much as I possibly could, feeling the soreness in every muscle from sleeping on the couch.

“I better go get ready,” I said before making my way to my bedroom.

forty minutes later and I was prepared and ready for my very first day on my own.

I took one last look around my room and did my best to remember it.

My bed where my dad would read me stories every night.

My window where my mom and I would sit and sing when it was raining outside and of course the bookshelf my dad built me when he realized I had run out of space.

That was the surprise he wanted to show me the day of the accident. A tear escaped my eye as the memories of my dad echoed in my head. The emptiness I felt in my heart every time I would think of him.

I took my suitcases and walked to the kitchen where my mom was ready with a cup of coffee in her hand.

“Are you sure you have everything that you need?” she asked once again.

“Yes, mom.”

“Are you sure you want to go?” she asked her voice close to breaking. “What if you get a panic attack when it gets dark? I won’t be there to calm you down like usual.”

“Mom we’ve talked about this. I have to go, and I need to learn how to deal with this stuff on my own,” I said as I took a sip of my coffee. “Besides I’ll only be three hours away,” I reminded her.

“I know, I know,” she sighed. “It’s just…” she trailed off.

I put my cup down and went to hug her. She was on the verge of breaking and if she broke, then I would as well. We were the same like that. If one cried, the other did too.

“I know,” I whispered, trying to keep my own voice from cracking.

And I did. I was as nervous about this as she was. This wasn't only me going off to be alone for the first time... She would too. With my dad being gone, my brother who left home, and me who now left too, it would be her on her own for the first time since she met my dad and as much as I tried not to think about it, it pained me to know that she would now see what it was like to really be lonely.

“I have to go now if I want to get there on time,” I said looking at the clock.

She nodded gently, not daring to speak as she followed me out to the car and helped me with my luggage.

“Drive safe and call me when you get there, okay?” she begged.

“I will mom. I love you,” I sighed as I held her tight.

“I love you too sweety. So much,” she said as she kissed my cheek.

I got in the car, turned on the engine, and rolled down the window to let some of the heat out.

I drove out of the driveway and watched as my mom waved goodbye before I drove down the street, leaving my home behind me.

With the music blasting from the radio, the 3-hour drive seemed like a piece of cake.

I pulled up to the parking spot right in front of the dorms.

As I got out of the car, I noticed a lot of people being brought here by their parents and I couldn’t help but think that if my dad was still alive, mine would have been here too.

After the incident, my mom was scared to get in a car, so I had to do this on my own. I even had to convince her, that me getting my own car, was a good idea. And trust me, that wasn’t exactly easy.

I took one last glance around me before I pulled out my phone.

I dialed my mom’s number.

“Hey sweetie,” my mom’s voice sounded on the other end.

She sounded like she was out of breath.

“Hi, I just wanted to call and let you know that I have arrived here safely without as much as even a scratch, so you don’t need to pace around in the kitchen like a manic any longer,” I said.

“How did you… never mind,” she chuckled. “Thank you for calling love. I will let you get to it then,” she said with hesitation in her voice.

“Don’t worry. I will be just fine,” I assured her.

I didn’t know who I was trying to convince more, her or myself.

“I know, I know,” she sighed. “I love you.”

“I love you too, mom,” I said before hanging up.

Here goes nothing, I thought to myself as I got my suitcases from the trunk and walked towards my new beginning.