Return Of The Outcast

|015| Saying goodbye

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They were all outside on the front lawn now, getting ready to leave. Angela was in the middle of a phone call, while Takahashi was busy fitting all of Mia's luggage in the trunk of his 2021 black Toyota Camry hybrid that was parked in the driveway. Mia stood there while holding Mylo on a leash and her head tilted up, gazing at her soon-to-be former house. She'd never realized how beautiful it was.

Tucked away on a peaceful street, it exuded a sense of warmth and simplicity. Its exterior is clad in soft pastel-colored siding, blending with the natural surroundings. The front yard is a cozy patchwork of grass and a small garden her mother used to tend to. The roof,  shingled in a traditional style, gently slopes down, sheltering the home from the elements. A modest chimney pokes out, hinting at a cozy fireplace inside. Around the side, a narrow driveway runs alongside the house, leading to a detached garage that mirrors the home's humble charm. In the backyard, a compact wooden deck provides just enough space for a pair of chairs and a small table, creating an intimate setting for morning coffees or quiet evenings under the stars.

It really was beautiful and now Mia had to leave it all behind.

She felt a wave of a bittersweet sense of nostalgia wash over her. She felt happy, but sad at the same time. It was a weird feeling. Happy for all the many memories she'd had and sad that they were soon going to be a part of her past.

"Can I ask you something?" She wondered, turning to the social worker who just finished up her phone call. "Of course," Angela said as she put her mobile in her back pocket, ready to give Mia her full attention.

"What's going to happen?" she started, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt "To this house I mean. Will it just turn into empty space, or will new laughter fill the rooms?"

She paused, her gaze steady and earnest. "I guess I just want to know it'll be okay, that my home will still hold stories, even if they aren't mine." Angela listened, understanding that the house was a symbol of her past and her identity so she knew she had to tread the waters carefully when answering the question as the young girl seemed to be having a hard time comprehending the changes.

"Well according to the law, the whole estate will go back to either the government or the bank until it's bought" She explained "So one day, someone else will get the chance to appreciate its beauty". Angela looked down at her, noticing how slightly happier she looked after the explanation.

"I'm glad" Mia softly said with her eyes still peeled on her home of 12 years. Only for a few more seconds though because the sound of a loud "boom" sound caused by Takahashi closing the trunk had stolen her attention.

"Alright. That's the last of it" He said, walking to the driver's seat. "ready to hit the road, Mia?". "No," a little voice in her mind said "I'm not ready. I'm not ready at all" the thought continued. She didn't want to go with him, but not because she didn't like Mr. Takahashi. It just felt like leaving behind the life she's built in the span of 12 years.

But she couldn't express her refusal out loud since either way she'd have to leave at some point because as Angela said, the government would reclaim it.

She knew she had to be grateful to Mr. Takahashi that  he had agreed to take her in because, without him, they would probably dump her in some orphanage.

And she was, but that didn't make the move feel any less daunting

She didn't even know how far he was taking her. Would she have to change schools too? If so, did that mean that she wouldn't see her friends again? How about Saanvi? She still hadn't told her that she was leaving.

"Maybe I should call her real quick?" she thought. Mia pulled out her phone, planning to call Saanvi, but then got distracted by Angela's voice.

"Alright guys, I'm going to take my leave" she informed them "Good luck and Safe travels!". Mr. Takahashi gave her a nod. "you too", he said as they shook hands, bidding each other farewell. She then turned to Mia. Her eyes soft with sympathy, she smiled at her as she pulled something from her white cardigan. It was a white envelope. "Here" She handed it to her "I want you to have this"

"What is it?" Mia wondered, staring at the small envelope. But Angela didn't give a direct answer. "You'll find out later" She instead said. And with that, the kind social worker waved goodbye and retreated into her car. As quickly as she had arrived,  Miss Forester had departed.

Mia stood there, watching her car fade away into the distance as she clutched the envelope to her chest. Her small frame shook with a sense of loss despite knowing the woman for mere minutes. Angela was kind to her. She offered her support and tried to comfort her the best she could, even if it wasn't entirely working

"It's a shame we'll probably never see each other again '' She thought as she looked at the envelope once more. "I wonder what's inside of it?". She gently lifted the envelope's flap to read it as her curiosity got the best of her, but she didn't get to completely open it. "Mia. Time to get in " Mr. Takahashi called out from the car.

Mia let out a heavy breath. She really didn't want to go but she had no other choice but to comply and hurriedly tucked the half-open envelope into her right pocket before jogging to the car's doors with Mylo  in hand.

After getting her dog situated in the backseat, she settles herself into the embrace of the passenger seat, the world outside fades away, and she's cocooned within the interior of the automobile. "Are you ready?" He said as he adjusted the rear view mirror.  She slowly nodded and with that, the car started. She rested her back on the seat, trying to forget all her worries and doubts as she breathes in the air within the cabin which is crisp and clean, thanks to the climate control system that maintains the perfect temperature.

As the car drove off,  she pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the window, her eyes tracing the familiar root of the home she was leaving behind. With each passing second, the house seemed to shrink, its windows flickering like the dying embers of her childhood memories. The garden where she'd pick petunias to make flower crowns as a last-second Mother's Day gift, the porch that had cradled her during the times she'd weirdly spy on her neighbors, were all  fading away.

Familiar sights glided past—the corner store that sold the sweetest candy, the park where she used to run around with the neighborhood kids. The faces of friends, the echoes of games played and secrets shared, all of it was receding into the distance, becoming nothing more than a speck in the mirror

A lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed hard, trying to steady the tremble in her breath. This was goodbye, not just to a place, but to the chapters of her life that had abruptly ended. it wasn't just the house that was getting smaller—it was a part of herself she was leaving behind, a part that she would forever belong to, that little corner of the world she called home.

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