dream on, my dear.

"silence"

As she pulled the clear tape over the closed box, and sighed in relief as she leaned on it. After her and her mom's last fight, it's been nothing but uncomfortable silence in her house. Aspen found silence and the quiet beautiful. She didn't like it when things were loud. There is something that just comforts her about silence. But this was the uncomfortable and the awkward and painful silence. Shortly after the fight, her mom told Aspen that they were moving. She seemed happy about it, so Aspen pretended she was too. No matter how big that grudge was, she hated seeing her mom sad. She wanted her happy, even if, in the moment, she didn't wish the same for Aspen.

She walked outside to the big truck parked in front of her house. She finished loading up the last boxes into the truck and jumped into the passenger seat. Her mom finished packing her stuff, closing the back, and stepped up onto the driver's seat. She looked over at Aspen and sighed.

"I think this will be good for us. I really do. I got a better job. A better house." She smiled, this time, looking genuinely hopeful.

Aspen definitely couldn't say anything now.

"I think so too, mom." She smiled slightly. Her mom pat her thigh and started the truck. She smiled, moving her hand and looking back at the road, and started to drive, Aspen slouched, trying to get comfortable, watching as her mom turned the knob that controlled the radio to the max, until she couldn't hear anything besides the music. They drove for hours, just listening to music.

After awhile, her mom started singing as an older rock song came on. Aspen was surprised. Maybe it really was just that town. She smiled and sat back up. She started humming along with her mom. Her mom looked at her and smiled softly. She laughed a little and continued to just stare and smile.

Her and her mom had bad days, of course. But they also had good days, not as often as the bad ones, but when they came around, they were the best days ever.

Aspen finally looked back over at her mom with the biggest smile. "What?"

"I'm sorry for everything. None of it was your fault." Aspen smiled,

"I'm sorry too." She slouched back in her seat and stared out the window, resting her head on her hand. It was getting dark, and she was getting tired. Her mom smiled and looked back out at the road. That smile didn't leave her face. Aspen smiled, slightly, but she was happy. Maybe this city would be good for her too. Maybe her mom and her would be happy together.

The rest of the car ride was silence.

But finally, it was the comfortable silence that Aspen enjoyed.