Waiting for Amber Skyy

Chapter 41

We left the next day.

I still wasn't completely healed and it hurt to walk, but I couldn't put them at risk even more. By this point, Erasers should have the address and are scouting the area for us. I winced as Mom embraced me, not wanting to let me go. I hugged back, my own tears staining her dress before pulling away and hugging Dad. My face pressed into his shoulder as he petted my hair gingerly.

"Be safe pumpkin," he kissed my forehead.

I pulled back to let Speck hug him as well. He picked her up to hug her better and she bawled. Seeing Speck crying made me cry even more, but I didn't bother to wipe my tears away. She kept her hands around Dad's neck before I had to peel her off of him. She hiccupped and hunched her shoulders, hands covering her eyes. I rubbed her back just as I noticed the time on my phone.

"We have to go," I blubbered, only to be welcomed into a family hug. Mom continued to cry into me while Dad rested his head against mine. Speck clung to their clothes like she wasn't going to let go. I closed my eyes, attempting to keep myself from sobbing as well. I had to be strong. I had to. For Speck and me.

Hearing the city bus in the distance broke me from their grasp just enough before Dad hugged me again. "You better come back," he whispered into my ear. My heart leaped in the sorrowful hope.

"I will Dad," I replied, hugging him back.

It took me a while to really start walking towards the bus stop, as my attention was on the two amazing people I called my parents standing in front of the place I used to call home. I put a hand to Speck's shoulder, keeping myself steady as we headed down the sidewalk. My bag was heavy with clothes, snacks, laptop and charger, and other things I kept ready in case something like this happened. I just never thought it would happen so quickly. We continued to glance back at the house as we walked, as we sat down on the bench, and as we climbed in the bus and paid and sat down in our seats. We watched it fade in the distance. It made me even sicker as I had bird vision, making the nostalgia stronger every passing second as the house shrunk down to the size of an ant. Then it was gone. The bus turned a corner and it was gone. I stared in hopes of it springing back up again, but everything was replaced by buildings, then houses, then trees. It was gone. They were gone. And we were running, again.

𓆩 ────── 𓆪

We stayed on the bus until night fell and it came to its last stop. Speck's tears pooled on my shoulder the entire way. I death gripped the railings and seats as I got off, pain shooting through me at every step. My bandages were getting bloodier by the minute. We had to find a place to rest.

Speck hopped out after me, her head down and cheeks still wet. As the bus took off I heard her sob briefly before wrapping her arms around herself. Wincing, I walked over and put an arm around her, which she took as a hug and instantly embraced me. I bit back a whimper as I let her cry into me, clutching my shirt and refusing to let go. I held her to the best of my abilities, fighting back my own tears. It hurt to be away from them, but it was for the best. As much I wanted to stay, or take them with us, it put them too much at risk. We couldn't stop running. Not for a second.

"Come on," I muttered, slithering out of Speck's grip and grabbing her hand. I pulled her with me as she wiped her eyes with her other hand. I could feel her dragging her feet behind her. I knew it hurt, I hurt, but we had to keep moving forward. I wish I could go back. I wish I could stay. But it was impossible.

I didn't know where we were going, but I kept us walking, keeping my emotions in check every time the thought of them came up. I had to move on. It was amazing how long it lasted, and it was great to put my past behind me, but deep down I knew the feeling would never go away. I could never get rid of it, no matter how hard I tried. It ruled me, it defined me. I felt my wings sag a bit, relaxing before we turned onto a street.