I walk determinedly into the house, where my mother is waiting, her arms crossed and a smug smirk on her face. “Decided to come back, huh?”
“I decided to come back for my stuff,” I walk past her into my room. As I shove clothes and small possessions into my bag, my mother shoots disapproving glances at my back from the doorway. She sighs loudly, and I turn around, barely keeping from rolling my eyes.
“May I help you?” I grit my teeth. She sighs again, and sits down dramatically.
“What happened?” she reaches out to stroke my head, but I dodge her hand. “Why are you so unhappy? Did someone tell you—“
“Tell me what?” I cut her off. “Is there something you haven’t been telling me? Is there something I should know?”
“No, I just…” she trails off lamely. “You don’t need to leave. I still love you; I always will. You’re my daughter.”
“I don’t believe in love,” I say quietly, looking down at my hands.
My mother doesn’t say a word.
“Change is coming, mother.” I look at her, seeing hurt, confusion, and worry in her eyes. “And I’m going to be there when it happens. More than that, I’m going to be the bringer of change.”
“But you don’t need to bring change!” She assures me. “You’re only fifteen; all you need to do is go to realms, learn— you don’t need this responsibility to be on your shoulders.”
“How many times do I have to tell you I’m not a child?” I ask. “I’ll be fine. Just let me go now, so we can get this all over with.”
“Where are you going?”
“I…” I pause. Where am I going? “On a long trip. I won’t be back for a couple months.”
“And you expect me to agree with that?” she asks incredulously.
“This is my life, and I’m going to do with it what I want.” I look her straight in the eyes. “I’m leaving today, as soon as possible.”
I stand up and grab my bag, heading for the door.
“Wait!” my mother calls, darting into the kitchen and returning a second later with a small pouch. “Some provisions for your trip.”
I stare at the bag. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to do this.” She says quietly, her eyes begging, pleading.
“I’m sorry.” I look down.
She nods, accepting it. “Your father would have been proud.”
She hands me the sack and I nod to her, then turn and leave. I look back, just once, and see her sitting on the porch, staring ahead of her. I swallow down the lump in my throat and head to the woods.
When I arrive at the bunker everyone else is already there.
“And here’s Adi,” Pare announces as I climb in.
“About time!” Clyde exclaims. “You’ll never reach the palace if you walk so slowly.”
I shove Clyde playfully. “I can run faster than you,” I tease.
