Scars of your love

Chapter 20

I stretch my neck, flexing it side from side to relax the muscles. Travelling, in the best ways money could buy also tires one, even when it is for not more than a couple of hours in my case. During the complete flight, I tried to calm my racing mind but it just couldn't shut down. I'm still torn between whether I should drop out of the college or not. Alex has assured me a thousand times that nothing will get out and not get stressed over it. It is easier said than done. It also didn't help that I haven't slept well over the last few days.

I readjust the strap of my duffel bag and go through the check-in point. I rake my eyes through the entrance, searching for Esme amongst the crowd. The moment my eyes fall on her, I drop my bag on the floor and run to her. She opens her arms in time and I crash into her.

The familiar smell of her shampoo and body wash fill my nostrils. I sigh. I am finally home.

"Someone here has to breathe." Esme's voice is amused.

I loosen my arms around her but not release her. Not yet. Finally, I pull back and smile brightly at her. Esme tucks my hair behind my ear looking at me maternally.

"Clearly someone has missed me."

"I missed you. A lot."

She is surprised and taken back by my sincerity. Maybe over the years, I have not shown her how grateful I am to her but I am going to make it up for it in the future.

"I missed you too, kiddo."

I smile so hard that my cheekbones are starting to ache.

"Now go and fetch your bag. There is no way I am going all the way there and getting it for you." She tries to pull off a serious face but fails miserably at it

I roll my eyes at her and turn around and walk to where my bag is lying on the floor waiting for me to pick up.

The next couple of days has been a rollercoaster ride. Esme and I go over a few last things deciding whether to sell or keep them in storage. It is unbelievable that this is the last time I am going to stay in this house. After that, I will have no links with my parents. On one hand, I am relieved and in other terrified that this is the only reminder of my parents. Esme didn't want to sell it but I insisted. Maybe for the closure that my parents are really not going to come back.

On Sunday Esme dragged me to shopping. Saying it was a torture is the understatement of the year. But it has successfully distracted me from the house and its memories.

Alex and I have been in contact, messaging a few times. Nothing major just how it's is going and what are you doing. Alex has gone to New York where his parents live. I don't know why it I have a feeling that he is not happy going to his parents aa his messages have been formal and consisted mostly of monosyllables.

I am thinking about all of this while laying on my enormous bed in the early morning. My eyes are closed and my mind is still running but at least I am a little blissful when I am cruelly dragged out of it.

"Tris, get up now."

I jerk in my sleep at the high pitched sound of Esme.

"What?"

"Get up now, sleepyhead." She throws a pillow on my face.

I open one eye and peek at the alarm clock on the nightstand. It is hardly after 9'o clock. Why on the green earth is she waking me up?