Julia Lelieveld and the fifth element

~ 1~

I was startled awake by a slamming door of a car and looked around me wildly, the sun shone brightly through the cracks in my curtains. I heard the radio of my alarm softly, shit I slept through the alarm.

I quickly walked to the window, I saw that it was the moving vans. I looked around my room, which was filled with moving boxes. I slept on a mattress on the floor as the bed was already taken apart.

My door opened softly, it was my father. He looked at me with his brown eyes, his dark hair was already neatly styled. He was wearing jeans with a faded police sweater. "You are awake."

I moaned. "Dad, why didn't you wake me up earlier?" I rubbed my hands into my face. "Sorry honey, but you slept so well this morning and it's been a while." He was right about that. I looked at him gratefully.

"Okay, dad, I'm going to get dressed quickly and then I'll come and help."

"You don't have to help, just take it easy."

He picked up a box and went downstairs. I know I could live up to this moment for a while, half a year ago daddy had already agreed to his new job and the new house. But now that the day had come for us to actually move, it was all so final.

I went to the bathroom. I remember decorating this bathroom with my mother. I tried to take everything into my mind. My mother breathed this house. Very pleasant on one side, confronting on the other. I looked in the mirror and I saw that my green eyes looked sad. There was a coarse curl in my dark hair that fell over my shoulders. I had lost some weight due to all the events. I actually thought I was too thin, all my clothes were just a bit too loose.

I quickly took a shower and put on a nice pair of jeans and a simple white shirt. There will be a lot of lugging and walking today.

I packed the last things that had to go with the truck. I walked downstairs with a pressure on my chest. Geez, that went fast. The kitchen and half the living room were already empty.

"Are you hungry?" I looked at my father, he was trying so hard.

"I'll get some from the bakery. I'll bring something for the movers right away."

"That's sweet of you." He kissed me on the head.

"Dad?"

"Yes darling?"

I looked at him for a moment to look at his face, I saw that he was having a very hard time with it.

"I want to visit mommy today, do you want to come with me?"

He looked sad in his eyes. "I said goodbye last night, but I'd be happy to come with you if you'd like."

Fortunately, I can go out alone a few weeks ago.

"No, Dad, I'll go alone." I tried to smile for a moment. He seemed relieved.

"Your bicycle is in front of the garage, so you can still use it, see you later."

"Thank you Dad, see you later."

I walked outside, it was a beautiful autumn day. The sun was shining and there was almost no wind.

Once on my bike, a wave of emotions washed over me. I realized that this would be the last time I would cycle here. I had already said goodbye to my friends yesterday, which helped to close everything. Gosh, how I will miss them.

I turned to school on autopilot, I didn't realize it until I was actually standing in front of the school. How stupid of me, but yes I had already cycled that ride for 4 years.

The school was deserted. It was autumn break. I still couldn't believe that exactly in a week's time I would be standing in front of another school in another province.