Goodbye, my love // a.i.

Chapter 2

As I pack my last two bags into my mom's car, I look back at the only life I've ever known, realizing that I am ready for a new one. Even if it means leaving behind my best friend, Jewel, I cannot deny the fact that I am glad to be able to escape my haunting past and look towards a better future in Australia. My mom has already enrolled me into Richmond High School in Sydney, where I will go for the remainder of my high school years, starting in my ninth year.

After shoving the last bag into the car, I walk back inside and call for my mom, "Mom! Are you almost ready?" Then I see her walking through the hall struggling to carry about five bags at one time and rush over to help her.

"Sorry, I was just getting a few last minute things," she apologizes.

"That's okay." I reassure her, "Do you have our passports?"

"Yes, they're in my purse. Are you ready?" she asks as we shut the trunk of the car.

"As ready as I'll ever be." I say as I open my door and sit in the passenger seat."

As we drive to the Port Columbus International Airport in Ohio, which is about forty-five minutes from our apartment in Newark, Mom reaches up to the stereo and hits the volume button to turn on the radio, trying the lighten the mood with some music, and it works because I immediately begin to relax when I hear the soothing sound of classical music. It used to annoy me, my mother's taste in music, but now I appreciate it because it helps me clear my head of thoughts. I lean my head back against the headrest and close my eyes, letting the music absorb my thoughts.

After what feels about like twenty minutes or so, the radio shuts off and the car slows down. I open my eyes and see the yellow "M" sign and suppose we are getting some breakfast.

"Drive-thru or walk in?" my mom asks as she turns into the McDonald's parking lot.

"We can just get drive-thru, I guess," I say, because I'm just ready to leave.

Mom pulls the car into the drive-thru line and glances at me before looking at the outdoor menu board.

"What do you want to eat, hun?" she asks without turning back to me.

"I think I'll just get a bacon, egg, and cheese McMuffin and a large sweet tea," I reply.

As the car in front of us leaves, we pull up and Mom tells the drive-thru lady our order.

"I want a McGriddle with a medium diet Coke. And she wants a bacon, egg, and cheese McMuffin with a large..." she turns to me, "sweet tea, right?" I nod and she turns back to the lady and says, "and a large sweet tea."

"That will be seven dollars and fifty-six cents," the lady tells Mom.

Mom reaches into her wallet, pulls out a ten and hands it to the lady through the window.

"Just pull up to the next window to get your food. Come back again sometime," she says cheerily, flashing us a smile.

Mom turns to me and smiles sadly, and I know exactly what she is thinking, that we won't be coming back here. She turns, facing the steering wheel, and drives the car up to the next window.

After about five minutes of waiting, a different lady opens the window and hands Mom our food and drinks.

As we pull out of the McDonald's parking lot, I reach up and turn the radio back on and open the paper McDonald's bag to get my food.

***

Twenty more minutes of riding have gone by and I finally see the huge Port Columbus International Airport and begin to get nervous. I have never flown in a plane before and a flight to Australia is twenty-seven hours long, making two stops in Atlanta and LA. It will all be worth it though, once we land in Sydney and I can finally begin my new life there.

As Mom parks the car in the huge parking lot, I see planes landing and taking off, and suddenly all the nerves that had built up are replaced by excitement to get on the plane and move to Australia.

Once the car is parked, I open my door and step out of the car. Still watching the planes, I walk around to the back of the car and open the trunk. I sling my backpack across my back and drag my suitcase out of the back of the car, then walk back around to the passenger side and poke my head in the door, grinning from excitement. My smile fades when I see my mom with her head leaning against the steering wheel, tears running down her face and falling onto her jeans. I set my backpack down and stand my suitcase upright and sit back down in the passenger seat. Putting my arm around her shoulders, I pull her into a hug and hold her until she says, "I'm sorry, I'm just so sorry that your father was so bad to you and that it has come down to us leaving the country and-"

"Mom, it's okay. When we get to Australia, we will be able to start over and not have to worry about him anymore. I'm going to be okay, you're going to be okay. We can do this, and we will get through this, together. I love you, Mom."

"I love you, too, honey. Thank you for understanding why we are going," and with this, she puts her hands on my head and kisses my forehead.