The One That Got Away

Chapter 1: The Move

"Have you ever thought about what it would be like if you were a villain?"

Eliza shrugs, keeping her eyes glued to the airplane's small TV screen. Normally, a question like that would've sparked my sister's interest, but back at home we were never really allowed to watch television, so she must be taking advantage of the opportunity. I sigh and close my book, turning my attention to the plane's window.

For some reason, it always annoyed me that the villains in all of the books I've read never got their happy ending. I was happy that things turned out well of course, but it still stung. Villains were people too. They still have dreams and interests, emotions and hobbies.

Sure, most are a bit iffy on the moral aspects, but if I'm being honest, most of the ways that they think are rightly justified. I mean, come on, if someone committed a crime against you, you would want revenge. If you have a big dream or some sort of goal, you'll most likely do everything in your means to reach it even if it was slightly possible to achieve. They're only villains because our society has deemed them so.

"Why do you ask?"

In an instant, I am snapped out of my thoughts. My sister unplugs her earbuds and starts to roll them up.

"What?"

"I said, why do you ask?"

My mind flashed back to the question I had asked her only moments earlier.

"Oh, well... I don't know... The thought just popped up, I guess."

"Well, I think we all have a bit of hero and villain in us. It really all just depends on the choices we make. There are moments in our lives when we decide to be the hero, and there are moments when we decide to be the villain."

"Well look at you," I shove my sister playfully "Being all wise and poetic."

She rolls her eyes, trying to hide her grin "Oh, shut up."

"But you still haven't answered my question, oh wise one."

Again, Eliza rolls her eyes at me "I think you need to find a hobby"

"I have hobbies!" I protest. My sister raises an eyebrow.

"Other than reading?"

"Yes, other than reading! I play the guitar, I paint, I-"

"Okay, okay, I get it." She laughs

"Maybe you just need to get a life then."

Now it's my turn to roll my eyes. I turn my gaze to the window, and I suddenly realize how close we are.

After almost over an hour of waiting, I can now finally see the large, towering buildings that make up our new home.
"Hopefully, this move will help me get one." I sigh "For the both of us."

＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊ ＊

Leaving behind everything is hard. My school, my friends, even my father, are all 500 miles away from me now. Sure, I've always dreamed of living in a big city like this, but not like this. Not without any warning, snatched from all that I've ever known. It's like being thrown into an ice cold pool during a hot summer day. Your body hates the heat. It longs for the cool touch of the water, but without any warning, the water feels strange and even unbearable. It's only until after you swim around a few laps you start to appreciate the new change. I know we must be patient, but it's hard.

Really hard.

I pull out another sweater from one of my moving boxes and fold it, gently laying it beside me on my new bed.