The One

That's the plan

Weeks passed, and nearly two months had slipped by without that haunting dream returning. Karol felt a strange mix of relief and irritation about her lack of dreams—rather than being devastated, she had accepted her new normal: eat, study and focus on her MBA. With only a year left in the course and nearly at the final stages, her routine had shifted, leaving her with empty nights devoid of any dream—bad or good.

She poured herself into her studies, determined to drown out the echoes of the wolf's sad, innocent gaze that haunted her memory.

Life buzzed quietly around her. Her father, William, was immersed in his work while her mother, Anna, managed her tuition centre. Sharon was busy working on her latest case, fighting for an innocent defendant, while she buried herself in her last assignment before the anticipated three-week holiday trip.

That night, after dinner, the family congregated in the study room, each at their respective tables. Suddenly, Sharon broke the comfortable silence. "Okay, I've found a few potential places for us to visit! Just need your confirmation. Karol and I will take turns driving from the airport, and from there, we'll go one place to another until we fly back."

"Explain in detail," their mother replied, intrigued by the prospect.

Sharon nodded, biting her lip, "It's been two years for me since we last visited—one year for Mum and Dad, and seven for you, right?"

Karol froze at the mention, her whole body going stiff. But before she could respond, their mother interjected, "So you're suggesting we take a trip down to your grandparents' hometown?"

"Yes, exactly, Mum!" Sharon said enthusiastically, her eyes shining.

"I've got no complaints about that since it's been a while," said Sharon, a glint of excitement sparking in her eyes.

"Me too! I totally agree with your suggestion; I'm definitely in," Ryan chimed in, adrenaline coursing through his veins.

All three of them turned towards Karol, their expressions a mix of boredom and determination as they silently pleaded, 'You better say yes!'

"Fineee... I'll go too," Karol relented, a hint of a smile beginning to tug at her lips.

"Yes! Then we'll set off next week since it's just a week away from the 15th of August!" Sharon announced, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm.

"Mummy, Daddy, did you apply for leave for three weeks? Starting from the 15th August?" Karol's eyes gleamed with hope and anticipation.

"Yes, we both did and of course, it's a go!" her father replied, his tone reassuring.

"Yes! Oh, yeah! Okay, here's the plan: we'll fly to Theodulf airport, which takes about four hours from here in Conchobar. We'll land there first and then transfer to another aeroplane, the Filtiarn airline, bound for Filtiarn airport, located on the eastern side of Theodulf. We'll stay there for a couple of days before driving to the bustling heart of Theodulf City and enjoying a few more days there. Finally, we'll spend our remaining days in Conry, our grandparent's hometown. Does that sound good?" Sharon asked, her voice dancing with enthusiasm as she detailed the itinerary.

"Wait, so we'll drive from Filtiarn airport to our hotel and then explore for a couple of days? Do you know what we're going to do there? I mean, do you have any activities planned out?" Karol's curiosity was palpable as she leaned in closer.

"From my research, Filtiarn is like a breathtaking escape from the concrete jungle, a paradise filled with open fields and the free spirit of horse riding as its heartbeat. It's the sort of place you dream of retreating to after the relentless grind of work. But we can explore it first, and if you don't like the vibe, we can head back to Theodulf earlier than scheduled."

"Okay then, so it's Filtiarn to Theodulf, and then to Conry, which is our final destination? Why do I feel like these names sound familiar, but I can't seem to remember any of them?" Karol looked at her family, a frown creasing her brow in confusion.

"That's because you never ventured back there, you know. All you've ever seen is Conry. We typically have our layovers at Theodulf airport before zooming straight to Conry airport, sweetheart. You've never roamed the other cities in Theodulf," her mother explained gently.

"Right, I get it now. Honestly, I probably never paid attention when you all talked about the other cities," Karol conceded with a shrug.

Sharon nodded a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, by the way, do you want to take a flight from Conry to Theodulf, or do you fancy driving back to Theodulf airport? If we fly, it'll be around 30-35 minutes, but driving will stretch to about two and a half hours, depending on the traffic."

"Can we buy the tickets right at the airport if we decide against driving?" Karol asked, her voice bubbling with optimism.

"Of course! We can sort that out on the day!" Sharon replied cheerfully. "We'll just play it by ear."

"Yes! Let's embrace the spontaneity! First, we'll drive, then we'll decide if we fancy driving back to the city or not."

Nods of agreement bounced around the room, camaraderie thickening the air around them.

"All right then, that's settled. A truly freestyle kind of trip. We'll keep the bigger picture in mind and relish spontaneous adventures along the way."

"Well, if we meticulously plan everything down to the last detail, our family won't stick to it anyway; it tends to disrupt the flow, so let's just savour the moment, shall we?"

"Yes, I completely agree, Mummy!" Karol replied, her spirits lifting.

"Then that's the plan," they echoed in harmony, their faces lighting up with smiles.