A Dangerous Wave

37

Saturday, 10th September 2016

The two day ride back to Miami was exhausting like hell. Ben called me hours before, saying that he has arrived, while I was still on the road. I passed so many unbelievable places, stopped a few times to rest and eat and so on. It was like a road trip, but a lonely one. It was better to travel with Tina when we went from Miami.

I have entered Miami minutes ago and now I am driving towards my family. The house is located in a suburb. I can still remember the route clearly. If I am honest, I am beginning to get nervous.

I haven't seen my family in months and I am on edge, mostly due to happiness. But I still don't know what I am going to say to them, how our meeting will go. Will they be happy to see me? That is a stupid question to ask myself, since judging by their letters, they all said numerous times they miss me and want me to come back.

Finally, after what felt like ages, I park the car in the driveway of my childhood home and get out, taking it all in. I never thought I would be back, never in a million years would I have thought I would be standing here again. This is my home, but why do I feel like a stranger standing here?

Everything looks the same. The same picket fence rounds the house, the same colorful roses are planted around the porch and the front yard and the same hammock is stretched between the two trees to my left. I used to sit there all the time, it was my safe spot. Whenever I was there, they knew not to bother me and I wanted to be alone. That was the one rule I wanted them to follow. And they did. They let me have that safe spot.

Everything is the same, except for the person standing in the driveway of her childhood home, looking at it being the same.

I take a deep breath and move the sunglasses up on my head. I was about to go up to the front door, when it bursts open and a younger girl with brown wavy hair runs out of it with her light pink summer dress flowing behind her and her arms is the air. I can't hide the smile appearing across my face as I watch her smile while running.

"Darcy!" She calls my name.

"Lyla!" She flies right into my arms, hugging me tight. The pain from my abdomen shoots through my body, but I push it away. I don't want to think about that now. I just want to have Lyla, my sister, in my arms. "I missed you so much." I whisper into her ear.

Eventually, we have to break the hug and I examine her from afar. She has become more mature, more beautiful than when I last saw her. A tear runs down her cheek as well as mine. I wipe it away quickly, I've cried enough for a lifetime.

"How about a hug from your old man?" Dad's voice booms from behind Lyla. The tall man, with brown hair, much like Lyla's, opens his arms and I fly into his comfortable embrace. "I missed you so much, honey." He says as he soothes my back with his hand. He kisses the top of my head before he steps away from me.

And when he does, mom is patiently waiting with a smile on her face and a tear streaming down her face. "Mom ..." I breathe out and hug her so tight I am surprised she can still breathe. Her brown hair is in a bun on the back of her head, her small posture in my arms. "I missed you all so much." I say to everyone when I stand back.

"What happened, sweetie?" Mom's caring and soft voice asks me while looking at me with wide eyes. "You are bruised and cut." She reaches for my face but I move away from her touch.

"Everything is fine, mom. I've been through worse, remember?"

"But what happened?" Dad's trying to keep it together, but worry can still be heard in his voice. "Who did this to you? Where else are you hurt?"

I shake my head lightly. "It's all over." I shrug my shoulders as I tell them. All of their expressions soften as they realize what I am talking about. I've always been honest with them about the gang. They never agreed to my doing but they knew if they turned us in, I would go with the rest of the gang. They didn't want to lose me.