The Marines Daughter

02 • A new start

"Ma ill be fine" I complained as she kissed me on the cheek for a hundredth time.

"Honey are you sure you want to leave? I'll unpack your car right now if I have to".

Meet my mum everyone. The ever so obsessive Melissa Jones. She's the most loving, compassionate and caring human you will ever meet. A bit over the top if I have to say.

"I need a new start, I'm going to live with mark and Jenna, you know they'll look after me".

My mum was always hard to get away from, ever since dad passed it was harder and harder, the work load, the phone calls, being able to look after me was just the bare minimum.

"I know baby, it's just sad to see my last child moving away".

I watched her eyes droop to the floor, sighing in the process. I know it's going to be hard for her, but I need to do this for myself. She's the strongest woman I know. I know she'll cope.

"Jaxon will be home next week ma, he's home for three months this time. I'll be sure to come and visit, surely he'll be messy enough that I'll have to show you how to use the new dishwasher".

I watched the sides of her smile tip upwards, I knew it would make her laugh.

Jaxon was my twenty three year old brother. He serves in the Air Force, travelling around the world on training tours and now finally deployment. We couldn't be prouder of him.

"That thing will be the death of me" she says whilst giggling to herself, shaking her head at the same time.

I felt apologetic. I didn't want to leave her, but I had nothing here left for me. I lost my boyfriend, my best friend, and couldn't even face my other friends without the side thought of them knowing about the affair and not telling me.

It broke my heart in too many ways to count.
I was practically on the mend, only to get shattered to pieces once again.

Sighing a deep breath out, I knelt down and grabbed the last one of my suitcases, considering I really don't own that many clothes, these things weigh the same as a elephant I swear. Logic one-oh-one.

As I loaded it into my car, dropping the boot and dusting my hands off, I acknowledged my surroundings one last time.

I took note on the side walk, the way our mailbox is straight up, a black pole and a white box. The number seventeen clearly viewable on the side.

The way the lawn was cut short and perfect to look at, white dandelions coming up in patches. It made me smile at the memory of me and Jaxon making daisy chains as a kid, wrapping them around our dog Oscars neck, only for him to shake them off in disapproval.

I shook off the feeling of sadness coming, I missed my brother too much.

I turned back to my house, looking as my mum walked down the yard directly towards me with tears in her eyes. I grew up in this house, it had many memories and happy moments. It was almost picture perfect.

From the way the white walls blended with the white fence. The way the roof slanted with our double story, the balcony perfectly centred looking out at the ocean. It was a great home.

"I'll miss you".

My thoughts broke as I heard my mother's voice once again.

"I know ma, but I'll be home when I can. I'm not going forever, and I'm only a few hours down the road, there's nothing to worry about."

She pulled me into a hug, this one seems to be lasting longer than usual.

"You can let me go now ma"

"I don't want to" she said as I felt her arms tighten around my neck.

Giggling to myself, I removed her arms from me. I'll miss her, I know that for sure.

I grabbed my car keys from my pocket and opened the drivers side door, getting into my car never felt so nerve wrecking.

"I love you ma, but I gotta go if I wanna make it by day break".

I had a three hour drive ahead of me, I wanted to make it there before the sun set. Mum holding me back and hugging me every six minutes wasn't helping my situation.

"I love you too sweaty, please call me when youve arrived. Mark and Jenna can't wait to see you again."

Mark and Jenna are old family friends, dad served with mark before he retired from the army. Jenna and him were trying for a baby for years, although they thought she was unable to conceive til one day the test came back positive and that little miracle baby was the one thing more important than serving your country, so mark finished his tours and came home for good.

"Yeah I know, I can't wait to meet bubs. Four years too late, but I'm doing it so no complaining now".

Mum giggled.

"Have fun with her sleeping in your bed. Heard she likes to bed hop".

I haven't really thought about what it would be like to live with a toddler, but I'll find out I suppose.

"Okay mum, I really have to go now, it's getting late and I still have three hours to get there".

"Okay hunny. I love you a trillion. Stay safe, and if you need anything, please, please call me."

"I will ma".

She knelt down through my window, grabbing my face in her hands and gave me one last kiss on the cheek, making sure to hold her hand on the side of my face for a little longer than needed.

"I love you"

"I love you too",

With one last smile, I put my window up and turned my google maps on. Placing my car into gear and checking my mirrors, I drove out the drive way and on my way to my new start.

Looking in my rear view mirror, I could see my mum waving. I tooted one last time.

I took a deep breath in. I was nervous, but knew it was what I wanted.

"Rightio Mikaela, lets get you to Boston."

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thanks for reading; will try and update daily.