Take Me Where The Lights Are

Chapter 1

The next days went by a blur and Kaia was mainly busy packing for Austria. Her student exchange program got finalised even though I was secretly hoping for it not to. I know I can be selfish sometimes. Anyways, packing for 6 months was not easy with frequent supermarket trips that I often tagged along in. The rest of the time I spent in looking for part-time jobs near the uni campus. My savings wouldn't last very long and I didn't want to use it all up. So far I had only seen a few openings in coffee shops and diners which I wasn't very interested in. But beggars can't be choosers so I applied anyway. I was more inclined to look for working in a travel agency or something if they took students like me.

My parents were leaving this weekend and I wanted to spend as much time as possible with them and help them pack. I swear all I've been doing this month is packing and I'm so tired of it.

When I reached my front porch, the comfortable smell of of my mom's freshly baked cookies wafted across the air. My mother loved baking. She says it's the next best thing to travelling. It calms her down. During weekends we would spend hours baking cakes and cookies only to devour them in minutes. Weekends were the things I was going to miss the most. As I stepped inside my house I saw my mum half covered in flour and her long lustrous black hair tied up in a messy bun. My mother is what you call a quintessential hot mom. My friends back in high school never failed to remind me of that.

" Hi, Rory. I've made almost a dozen cookies and brownies for you to take back to the apartment."

"Thanks ma, but you really didn't have to."

"It's just that with me gone.." she trailed off in this trance. I knew what she was thinking. Even though was going to move out, being a whole continent away from your kid is different than being a few hours away, I think she felt guilty . But I really didn't want her to. She spent most of the time raising me and I wanted her to live her life like she's always wanted to, traveling. I immediately engulfed her in a hug.

"Martha ! You're getting Rory's back wet with your tears! "

"Daddyyy!!" I squealed and hugged him with a force.

He hugged me back and went to comfort my mother who was still sniffling.

After a while we moved to the living room and engaged in our usual banter. They explained me the entire route of their trip and to be honest it was pretty exciting. I wished I could do that too. They we're so lucky to have each other. Soon it was evening and I helped my mother set the table. Since it was the last dinner we would have together my mom went all out and literally made everything that I loved. I surely was going to get a food baby after this not that I cared. We joked around but still were very emotional . After dinner I busied myself with cleaning dishes until my parents called me to the living room.

"Okay, so as you know we won't be around for at least 8 months," pausing briefly to look at me, my dad's expression was grave. "This does not mean that we do not have time for you. We'll always be a call away and don't hesitate to call despite the time difference. Also calling on weekends is compulsory." Nodding my head I went and hugged my mom.

"I trust you to be regular with your college stuff and be responsible with all your finances. Apart from this I'd like to give you this." He placed a rusty bunch of the keys on the table. Tears filled my eyes as I looked at the keys a reminder of all the best times that we had together. The keys were of the cabin which we owned in the woods. It took a gruelling 3 hours by the road and half an hour by foot into the dense jungle. But it was absolutely worth it. It's literally in the middle of nowhere but this place is my Haven and my favorite place to read and clear my thoughts. It has long glass windows but covered with plants that lets the natural light flood inside. The ledge by the window is my favourite spot to read. The fact that my parents trusted me with so much and that I would not throw crazy parties was beyond me but they knew me too well. I hated that kind of stuff anyway.

"I expect you to take good care of it and use it wisely. Also we've deposited some money in your account." I opened my mouth in protest, but my father held up his finger effectively shutting me down. "It's for emergency purposes only."

My mother question very emotional for the rest of the night. It was becoming late and I finally made my way up to my old bedroom and fell on the bed, thousand thoughts clouding my mind, something sank in my heart when I realised that at the end of this week I would have no one I could rely on or hang out with. The uncertainty of the future need my head throb dully and eventually drifted off to sleep.