Midnight Mayhem

9

Before Eliza could gather her things and walk out of the door, her mother sneakily took her bag off the door and dug out her passport. She couldn't let Eliza go, not without one last look at her. It was too much.

Eliza's mum looked around her empty room, all that lilac showing through. And for the first time since the move, almost a decade ago, she let her emotions show. She cried, bawled her eyes out. So upset, and emotional. She gasped and let out all her pain from the previous years, of struggling to raise two daughters alone while working. Finally, she let herself feel.

She wiped her tears from her eyes and walked to turn off the light. 'I never liked that lilac.' She said.

'This is it!' Eliza smiled, 'all travel arrangements have been made, I can't believe I'm doing this.' Her sister hugged her tighter.

'I can't believe it's the day you have to leave.' She said, 'I will always miss you until you come back.'

'I promise to come back for holidays. I will call every week and send lots of presents through the mail for you.' They both smiled and wiped their silent tears from their eyes. Even though she was a bit of an annoying sister, she was still family.

'I love you so much, I hope that you make it safely.' Her mother said, though she knew she kept the passport back. She felt bad, pain even. But nothing could make her get it out. She had to see Eliza one last time. 'Promise you will think of us, no matter where your adventures take you.'

'I will.' Eliza sighed, she got her bags together, and slammed the boot of the taxi shut. She watched as she left her little duplicate house with the terrace behind, waving goodbye to her mother and sister. They would leave for work in a matter of hours, and pretend like she never was there. It would all go back to normal.

-

'So, Eliza, what inspired you to move to Japan?' Jasmine asked.

'I came to England with my mother about 10 years ago. I've always wanted to move back.' Eliza felt like it was invading her privacy slightly, but she liked talking about it to someone who won't care after the day was over. She was only making small talk to be polite.

'I know it's crazy, but I feel like I need to find myself. I haven't been able to let go of the past strings keeping me in Tokyo. I don't feel I have a life. It's all been forced studying.'

'Wow.' Jasmine sighed, 'for a 22-year-old you sound like a child.'

Eliza was taken back by that sentence, it seemed so harsh... but, it somewhat was true. She wanted to move to Japan, to find out who she was, but underneath it all what really was lying there? Unknowing. A past, that she had forgotten about. A forced move, that she didn't want to take place. Maybe she was just a child after all? Maybe she really didn't have much to offer? Maybe all her studying and saving working at cafes was for this trip. To finally find out who she was, and what she was uprooted from. 'Don't worry, I'll be fine.' Eliza admitted.

-

'Thank you for taking me to the airport, Jasmine.' Eliza stepped out of the taxi with her luggage being hulled out of the boot by her new friend.

'No problem, I just wanted to make sure you have everything packed for your journey...'

'Yes, everything is organised thank you. I have my phone, charger...' Eliza looked down to her carry-on, 'oh but... no it can't be. My passport.' She stopped to empty her bag onto the floor.

'It's not there?' Jasmine questioned.

'No.... I can't believe it. One second,' she picked up her mobile, and rang her home number. After a short phone call, Eliza started putting her luggage back into the taxi.

'My mother said I left my passport at home. I'm so sorry to put you through this, but would it be ok for you to drive me back?'

'No trouble at all, I'm just glad we checked you had it!' Jasmine said, slamming the boot shut and getting back into the car with Eliza.

'What's the bet my mother was the one to take my passport, and hide it so I couldn't get on the plane in the first place?' Eliza laughed. 'She of all people would do something like that.'

'I wouldn't criticise her too harshly. I am sure it's just hard for her to let you go. My mother was a bit like that, she couldn't get over that I had to work, run a house, move out. In the end I showed her that I could handle it all. I just needed to gain her trust to take my path in the right direction... she was so fearful of me going the wrong way.'

'Sounds awfully familiar.' Eliza sighed, 'worst of all I must leave my best friend. Nevertheless, this move is for me. Not anyone else.'