The king of everything

Chapter one- The last goodbye

The low hum of the ceiling fan filled the room, cutting through the silence that had settled between us. My mother sat across from me, her face framed by the soft glow of the lamp beside her. The faint aroma of her cooking still lingered in the air, blending with the scent of the books that lined the shelves behind her. I had heard this story before, the one she was telling me now, but tonight it felt different—heavier, like there was more she wanted to say, but couldn't find the words.

Her voice was steady as she spoke, yet I could sense the weight behind it. My eyes drifted to her hands, still holding the coffee mug she had barely touched. I didn't know what I was expecting her to say, but the familiar tale had taken a turn. My mind wandered as I thought of the long journey ahead of me, but her voice pulled me back.

*"Did they ever catch the cultists?"* I asked, interrupting her.

She paused for a moment, her gaze lingering on the distant past. She took a sip of her coffee and set the mug down with a soft clink.

*"No,"* she replied, a faint smile on her lips. *"They didn't. But I'd like to believe that somewhere in this world, they've gotten their reward."*

I nodded, not sure what to say. My mother had a way of making the worst of things seem almost... poetic. There was a quiet strength in her, the kind I had always admired, even when I didn't fully understand it.

She stood up, smoothing the wrinkles in her skirt, and walked over to where my suitcase lay, half-packed, by the door. Her hands moved over the items as if checking them one last time, though I knew everything was already in place. She was stalling, just like me.

*"Don't lose yourself while you're out there, Aaron,"* she said, her back still turned to me.

I looked down at my hands, absently playing with a loose thread on my jeans. *How could I lose myself when I barely knew who I was?* I thought but didn't say.

My father's footsteps echoed from down the hallway. He appeared in the doorway, leaning against the frame. His usually broad shoulders seemed smaller, his face a little paler than I remembered. I stood up as he approached, offering a small smile.

*"You're all packed?"* he asked, glancing at my suitcase.

*"Yeah, Mom made sure of it."*

He chuckled, but it quickly faded, replaced by a somber look. He had always been the strong one, the silent one who rarely showed emotion. But now, something was different. His eyes lingered on me, and for a moment, I thought he was going to say something profound, something I could carry with me.

Instead, he reached out and gave my shoulder a firm squeeze. *"Take care of yourself out there, son."*

I nodded, feeling the lump in my throat grow. He turned away, glancing at my hair as he always did. He'd never been a fan of the cornrows, always said they made me look "too wild." But tonight, he didn't say a word about it.

*"I'll be fine, Dad."*

He offered me a weak smile before heading back down the hall, his footsteps slower than they had been before. I watched him disappear, wondering why he hadn't offered to help with the bags like he usually did. I tried to shake off the feeling that something was wrong.

Mom came over and hugged me, wrapping her arms tightly around me as if she wasn't ready to let go. Her embrace felt like home, like everything I was leaving behind. I hugged her back, holding on a little longer than usual.

*"Call me when you get to the bus stop, okay?"* she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

*"I will."*

The sound of the cab horn outside broke the moment. I grabbed my backpack and suitcase, glancing one last time around the living room, the place where so many memories had been made. My mom followed me to the door, watching as I stepped outside. The early morning light was still dim, casting long shadows across the yard.

The cab driver waited patiently by the curb. I threw my suitcase into the trunk and opened the back door.

Before I could get in, I turned back to my mother. She stood on the porch, her arms folded tightly around herself, watching me with that same mixture of pride and worry that only a mother could have.

*"I'll see you soon, Mom."*

She smiled, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

*"Take care, Aaron. And remember, don't lose yourself."*

I gave her a small nod and ducked into the cab. As the driver pulled away from the curb, I watched her through the rearview mirror, her figure growing smaller and smaller until she was just a blur in the distance.

I leaned back against the seat, clutching my backpack a little tighter. The weight of her words hung in the air, mingling with the hum of the engine.

This was it—the beginning of something new, something unknown.

I wasn't sure if I was ready, but I knew there was no turning back now.