August// h.s.

1

"I'd kill the distance,

to get close to you"

Rylie Donavan

July 29th

Dear Nathan,

It's officially my last night in Montana. Tomorrow I will be at my dorm in California. I'm oddly ready for the next chapter of my life. I know I've told you before, but I think at this point I'm convincing myself. I have a job waiting for me down there along with all my belongings.

It's been 14 days since you left, and I haven't heard from you apart from you sending me a letter to give me your address. I've heard that you have been speaking to your mother and that you get phone calls on Sundays. I'm hoping this Sunday will be my turn.

I must admit, I am nervous about starting college, especially in a new place where I don't know anyone. But I know I'll do okay.

I hope you're doing okay; I miss you.

Love, Rylie.

I shove the letter into the envelope and take it out to the mailbox. I turn and look at my childhood home. The white paint chipping away and peeling was almost enough to bring tears into my eyes. I walk back inside the house and bask in the emptiness. I don't remember coming to America, but I can remember the memories that I have in this place.

A house that was once full of life and a happy family, was now replaced with loneliness and tension. Nothing about this house was happy anymore. The only thing that had stayed the same through my time in this house, was my dreams. I never gave up on those.

But this house deserves to be happy again, and it will never be that if I'm still here. So, I made the decision to finally apply to college, not thinking anything of it really. When I got the acceptance letter, Nathan was getting ready to leave and he told me to go for it.

So, I packed my belongings, sent them to Los Angeles, and here we are, blowing up an air mattress because for the last time I will be sleeping under this roof.

I lay down on the blowup bed, and stare at the ceiling. Tomorrow everything will change for me. I'll meet new people and become a different version of myself.

This small town in Montana will just be a distant memory, or at least I hope so.

I roll over and shut my eyes, attempting to push down the nerves and get some sleep.

**

I'm awaken by something blaring next to me. I groan and sit up, soon realizing it was in fact my alarm and it had been going off for a while. I turn it off, and let the room fill with silence. I run my hands over my face and get up to brush my hair. I decided I was just going to wear what I went to sleep in onto the airplane, I don't care that much.

After getting ready, I call and Uber. While waiting I deflate the bed and fold it, putting it up against the wall.

When the driver finally arrives, I grab my bags that are packed with the rest of my belongings in them and head out the door for the final time.

I get inside the car and greet the driver. I try to stay to myself and listen to the music that is playing at a low volume.

"You're headed to the airport?" The driver asks. I give him a small smile and a short nod. "Where are you headed?"

"I am going to California." I say, trying not to give too much information.

"How fun." He says as he pulls up to the airport. He parks the car and I grab my things and start to jump out of the car. "What was your name again?" He asks as I start to close the door.