Two lives.

05. Six Hours to Nowhere

May 10th 2024

"Sienna!" my mom's voice called from downstairs, sharper than usual.

"Yeah, I'm coming," I replied, my stomach sinking as I made my way down the stairs.

As I entered the living room, I found both of my parents sitting on the couch farthest from the entrance. My dad looked up, motioning to the chair on the opposite side of the room, keeping as much distance between us as possible.

"Come sit down," he said, his tone uncharacteristically stern.

I took the seat they'd pointed to, feeling the weight of something heavy in the air. They both looked at me with expressions I couldn't fully read—an uncomfortable mix of sadness and disappointment.

"So... what's going on?" I asked, breaking the silence that seemed to stretch forever.

My dad leaned forward, his gaze steady. "More evidence has come out about the fire at that party," he said, each word sharp and final. "We don't even want to hear any excuses."

My heart pounded as my mind raced. Evidence? How much did they know? My throat felt dry, and I couldn't find the words to respond.

Just then, my mom spoke, her voice softer but equally firm. "The family whose property was damaged... they wanted to press charges."

My breath caught. "Wait—charges? But I didn't—"

"We don't want to hear it, Sienna," my dad cut in, his voice tense. "We've reached an agreement with them to avoid things going any further."

He paused, exchanging a glance with my mom before adding, "And to be clear, we've been considering this decision long before this party incident happened."

My brows furrowed as I tried to piece it together. "Wait, what do you mean?"

"In Washington, there's a boarding school for kids with behavioral issues," my dad began, his voice steady but cold. "We're sending you there for the summer—until you can learn to behave."

The words hit like a punch to the gut. "What do you mean?" I managed, feeling a lump rise in my throat, the sting of tears threatening.

My mom's face softened, but her resolve held. "Honey, it's only for the summer. We've warned you over and over about how those friends of yours would lead to trouble."

"For the entire summer?" I choked out, barely processing what she'd said. My dad cut in, his tone flat. "Yes, just four months."

"Just four months," I repeated, almost laughing at the absurdity. "You're sending me to another state, hours away, and you don't even seem to care!" I stood up, my anger and disbelief bubbling over.

"We do care!" My dad stood up, matching my stance. "We're doing this because we care. You need to take this seriously!"

"You know what? I'm done." I grabbed my shoes and slipped them on, ignoring my mom's outstretched hand as she tried to stop me.

"Sienna, don't you walk out that door!" she shouted as I swung it open and stepped outside.

As soon as I was out, I started running. What did it matter anymore? They were sending me away regardless. I ran as far as my legs would carry me, finally stopping about half an hour later, collapsing onto a bench as the reality sank in.

I was screwed—three hours away from everyone I knew, in a completely different state. That's when it really hit me, and I couldn't hold back the tears. I'd always felt out of place, even around my friends, but now I was going to be alone in a way that felt far more real. There had always been something that set me apart, a nagging feeling I couldn't shake, though I'd never quite figured out why.

After what must have been an hour, just sitting and thinking, I finally started the slow walk back home. When I stepped inside, I found my parents seated at the kitchen table, their expressions hard but unreadable.

"You leave tomorrow," my mom said, not even glancing up. "Have your bags packed and be ready."

I didn't respond, just turned and walked up to my room in silence.

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After I finished packing, I slumped onto the floor, leaning back against my bed frame, trying to process it all. I did more research on the school, and it turns out it's actually six hours away—not three. To make it worse, it's primarily for kids with mental health issues. I'm not mentally ill.

So, to recap: I'm going to be six hours from everyone I know, stuck in a place with a bunch of kids facing things I don't even understand.

I'm completely fucked.