Burning Rose

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3 days later

Those last 3 days went away so quickly, I can't even remember what I did. I have been thinking about the reasons my mom and dad told me, why this would be good for me, although I know they only want what is best for me and make me feel better, but the fact ,that I have to go to another county for 2 months or more if that doctor says so, I still did not accept.

Mom helped me to prepare everything. They said I can bring with me anything that I want, so I decided I would take my black guitar and my own pyjamas because I heard they only have white pyjamas and I don't really like white. I also took my drawing book because I love to draw places I find special.

But it wasn't only my mom who helped me, dad and Emma also helped me a lot. Dad has been helping packing and Emma been there for me for talking, even tho she was the one who did the talking and I just listened how quickly this is going to pass and we will be back to normal again. I think my dad will be really sad when I go, I mean, we always had a special relationship, I will even be heartbroken to be away from him for so long. As much as I know Emma, she thinks this is for the best so she isn't really that sad that I'm going. 

It's Tuesday morning and I just woke up. I'm sitting on the side of my bed, taking one last look of my room and things I love in there the most before going on a 2 months trip. Is it a trip tho? Or would I consider this more of a vacation? I don't even know anymore. Dad already put all the suitcases in the trunk of our car. I thought I was going alone, that they would only take me to air port, but we are going together to the airport and then me and dad will take off. It's probably better that way, I will still have someone to be with me, you know, for psychological support. 

˝Rose, come, we are going to be late!!!˝

˝Coming, mom!˝ I don't even know why she is more stressed than me. I mean, she is always panicking when we have to be somewhere on time, she always thinks there will be a road congestion and even when we listen to her, we get there 2 hours early. 

˝Your flight is in 3 hours!!˝ she is yelling from downstairs. But the fact is that we will get there in half an hour, maybe in an hour if there REALY is a road congestion. 

So this is it. I take one last look of my room, grab my guitar and drawing book and close the door on my way out. I head down the stairs when my dad blocks my way on the end.

˝You are bringing this with you?˝

˝It's my drawing book, it relaxes me when I draw.˝

˝But you never really use it.˝ he is looking at me confused.

˝I do. Just because you don't see me when I draw, does not mean I don't draw at all.˝ I grab the book tighter and hide it behind my back.

˝Fine, take it with you.˝ I smile to myself lightly. I head out the door and by the road I see Emma.

˝You have come to say goodbye?˝ I say to her.

˝You know this isn't really a goodbye. After all, you are coming back in 2 months from now.˝ She smiles.

˝Or more. Don't forget, they can extend my treatment if needed.˝

We came against each other and I felt a weird energy between us. Honestly, it's not really weird, it's kind of normal because this is the first time we will be apart for so long. I wonder how would this be if it was the other way around. Emma was never the type of person who would easily go from home to another place and stay there for even a short period of time, while I am the kind of person that loves to explore new places and making nice memories from exploring what the world has to offer. 

˝Yes, I know, I know. Hey, before you go. I made something for you.˝ she extends her right arm.

˝You? You MADE something for me?˝ we start laughing because we both know Emma is not the ˝making thinks˝ kind of person. ˝And what may that be?˝

˝Oh come on, you know I love to create things. I make a Christmas card for you, every year.˝ she says proudly.

˝Yes, you make it by buying it, write the same line every year, and maybe if we are lucky enough, you stick a star sticker in it.˝

˝Hey I still put effort in it˝  we were both laughing very loudly by now. ˝Come on now, extend your arm before your mom comes and says you have to go.˝

˝Ok˝ I extend my right arm and she plants something in my palm. Her hand is covering the thing, but by the feeling I have, it is something round and very light. She backs away her hand and I take a look what is it that I am holding. It is a beautiful bracelet and you can see it is hand made.

˝Oh my god Emma! You made this?˝ I gasped.

˝Do you like it?˝ she says nervously.

˝Do I like it? I love it Emma. This is the most beautiful thing you have ever made for me.˝

There was a moment of silence while I was admiring my beautiful present. It's not really much, but because of that I love it more. It is a simple bracelet with 2 thin light colored straps, which are suppose to go around arm and an silver infinity symbol in the middle. 

˝I'm happy you like it because I spent hell a lot of time to put this together and to find the material.˝ we both started laughing by the joke.

˝Rose, honey, we have to go now. Say goodbye to Emma.˝ My mom was now by the car waiting for me to go.

˝I have to go. I promise I will take care of it like my life depends on it.˝ I said proudly, smiling to her and slowly approaching our car.

˝And I am taking you by your word.˝ she said. ˝Oh Rose, wait!˝ she yelled after me and by the time I turned around she hugged me very tightly. ˝Promise me you will help them get you better.˝

I felt like if I say that, I would be making a promise that I cannot fulfill. ˝I promise.˝ the words just fell out of me, me realizing what I just did after I said it. I just hugged her back and then slide into the car before my mom gets a panic attack. Before I even knew we came by the end of our block. I take my little backpack in which I keep my drawing book with my pencils, my phone, documents and headphones. I take out my headphones and my phone and turn on some Billie Eilish music. What can I say, music makes me relaxed. I take a look at the bracelet I just got, making me feel a bit better so I put it on, hoping this feeling will escort me through this journey. 

After HALF AN HOUR driving to the airport, my dad, again as always, told my mom that she was wrong again for making us leave that early.

˝It's always better to be early, she could have not go if we missed the flight.˝ she says in response.

Dad looks around and says ˝we can still go out for a lunch near the airport, after all, we still have 2 hours to wait˝

˝Yes, I suppose we could do that˝ my mom says being the first one to walk to the nearest restaurant she sees, not even asking us if we agree with her choice. We just look at each other, both knowing what we thought in our heads and just smiling to each other.

We had a good lunch, we even talked a lot, which is surprising. After lunch we said our goodbyes, me and dad went to board and my mom left to go home. 

We have a long flight in front of us. We fly to Zürich for almost 8 hours, because this is the nearest airport to that wellness center, but we still have to drive a bit more than an hour to our final destination. They said they will send us someone to pick us up so we wont have to pay for taxi, which is nice I think.

Unfortunately, the tickets my dad bought for us where not for two seats that where together, so we where seated separately. There is a very old lady that just got on board and I hoped not to get her seated next to me but I guess I wasn't lucky. Great! Now I even have to check on her once a while if she is still breathing. I decide it is time again to bring out my phone with headphones. 

I make myself comfortable, put my headphones in and turn on Taylor Swift mix, put the volume on low, enough for me to hear the music and not the crowd and then slowly feeling myself drifting to sleep.