pieces | ethma

any way the wind blows

Emma

"Now, I know this is a big adjustment, but I think you'll like it here," My dad said, carrying one of my boxes as I followed him upstairs.

We passed two rooms on the left before he opened the door on the right, which was the only door on that side of the hall.

"This is your room. I tried to decorate it to the best of my ability, but you can make any changes you want to it."

"That's okay," I said. "I love it. You did a great job."

Dad smiled as he set the box down, and then he put his hand on my shoulder. "I'm glad you're here, Emma. I missed you a lot."

Giving my dad a big hug, I smiled. "I missed you too."

The last time I was in Michigan, I was seven years old. My mom had to relocate to California for work, and my dad needed to stay here to keep his job. My mom won custody of me in their divorce, and this year I decided I wanted to come home. To my real home.

Living with my mother wasn't bad, but it was getting to be a lot. She had gotten remarried two summers ago, to a man who never had kids. Slowly she started paying more attention to him than me, and wasn't really there for me as much as she should've been.

I wanted to go home. I wanted to live with my dad, and be with my best friends.

Through penmanship, I stayed in touch with my childhood best friend Olivia. When we got old enough to have our own phones, we've texted non-stop.

She's still a close friend of mine, and one of the reasons I knew coming home to Michigan was a good choice.

Since I didn't have much to unpack, I sat on my perfectly made bed before hitting the FaceTime call button under Olivia's name.

I'm surprising her with the fact that I'm living here again.

"Hey, bestie. What's poppin'?"

I laughed at Olivia's use of slang. She was always trying to use the newest terminology, and I was always the one trying to catch up with it.

"I have a huge surprise for you."

"Okay. . .?" Olivia said. "Should I be scared?"

"No. You should be happy," I said, not being able to contain my smile. "Guess where I am right now?"

"I don't know?"

"Harbor Springs, Michigan."

Olivia screamed. "What? No way! You're here? Where are you?"

I laughed. "I'm at my dad's house. I'm living here now."

"And you didn't tell me?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise," I said.

"Best surprise ever. Are you busy right now?"

"No, why?"

"I'm picking you up in twenty minutes."

"Okay, Liv. See you in a few."

I put my converses back on before looking in the mirror and making sure my French braids were still in tact.

Then I grabbed a jacket in case the evening became cold. Michigan is never predictable when it comes to the weather.

"Already finding friends to hang out with?"
My dad teased as I headed towards the door.

"Olivia's coming to pick me up."

My dad smiled. "She's a nice girl. I'm glad you two stayed friends over the years."