Heartbreak High: New Hope

2

"Huh?" I managed, still dazed from the view.

     A warm smile tugged at dad's lips. "I know your brother isn't too thrilled about the move," he began, his voice gentle, almost as if he could sense the weight on my mind. "But I promise, you guys are going to love it here."

     I forced a small smile, an attempt to reassure him even if I didn't quite believe it myself.
     "Yeah, Dad,"
     I said, my voice laced with an effort to sound more convinced than I felt.

     "Come on, let's go check out the inside,"
     he said, patting my back in a way that was comforting as he urged me forward.

     The front door swung open, and we stepped into the bright, spacious entryway. Polished wood floors gleamed beneath the overhead lights, stretching out toward the living room. The large windows lining the walls flooded the space with natural light, offering a glimpse of the backyard where the pool shimmered under the sun.
     "Wow,"
     dad muttered as he walked in, his voice echoing slightly in the empty space. I followed him in, my footsteps hesitant as I crossed the threshold into what was supposed to be our new home. The air was cool, carrying that new-house smell, fresh paint and recently cleaned floors.

     To the left, I noticed the kitchen, all sleek countertops and shiny appliances, a far cry from the old, worn-down kitchen we'd left behind. Mom wandered over, running her hand along the counter's edge, her expression softening just a bit.
     "Look at all this space,"
     she said, more than a hint of excitement in her voice.

     I trailed behind them as we moved further into the house, my eyes darting around, taking in the high ceilings, the open stairway leading to the second floor, and the cozy sunken living room with a fireplace that looked like it belonged in a magazine. It was all very impressive, but despite the beauty and promise of this new place, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling in my gut. The house was big and modern, but it felt cold-like a showpiece waiting for someone to give it life.

     We walked through the dining room, which opened up to a patio, and I caught another glimpse of the pool. The water sparkled invitingly, but instead of feeling drawn to it, I felt a pang of loneliness. This was supposed to be a fresh start, but all I could think about was what we'd left behind—friends, familiar streets, a house that may have been small but was filled with memories.

     Dad kept talking, pointing out features in the house, but I barely heard him. I nodded and smiled whenever he looked my way, but my thoughts were far away. They already had enough to deal with, especially with Liam's outbursts. The last thing they needed was me adding to it.

     We climbed the stairs to the second floor, where the bedrooms were. The hallway was wide, lined with soft carpet that muffled our steps. We passed by the first bedroom, which was large with its own bathroom attached. Mom mentioned it might be perfect for Liam, and I could only imagine the look on his face at the thought.

     Finally, we reached what would be my room. Dad pushed the door open, revealing a bright space with big windows overlooking the backyard and pool. Movers were already bringing in boxes, setting them down in neat stacks along the walls. I stepped inside, looking around. It was bigger than my old room, with plenty of space to spread out. But as I stood there, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing-something more than just furniture and belongings.
     "What do you think, Lucas? Pretty nice, huh?"
     He patted me on the shoulder, pulling me out of my thoughts.
     "Yeah,"
     I said, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes.
     "It's great."

     He studied me for a moment, like he was trying to read the emotions I was working so hard to hide. But before he could say anything, another mover showed up in the doorway, asking where a particular box should go. Dad turned to help, leaving me alone with my thoughts again.