When Emily woke up, she instantly checked her alarm clock. It was Three-fifteen. Apparently, Rick had left. She got up and got dressed in her clothes that were already laid out. She loved being pre planned. She was very meticulous. She did her hair, grabbed her suitcase, and walked out into the living room without looking back at anything. She was going to begin anew in a completely different place then the New York that she had always known and loved.
"Hello Emily. I was just about to come get you. I just figured that you wanted some space after I heard you screaming. I know that you don't like anyone bothering you when you have those terrible nightmares. Are you ready to go?" Emily nodded and looked to her mother with a worried expression. Her mother looked as if she hadn't gotten any sleep whatsoever.
"Mom, are you sure that you're okay to be driving? I mean you look completely exhausted." Emily's mother took a deep breath and tried her best to smile. She grabbed the keys.
"Don't worry sweetheart. I'll be perfectly fine Emaline. I'm just worried about you. Did you dream about that boy last night?" Emily nodded a small nod.
"Emily......don't worry. You'll be safe soon enough. Your uncle will take very good care of you. I can guarantee you that. He loved me and he'll love you just as much because you're so much like me." Emily followed her mother out the door. She didn't feel safe outside....She felt exposed.
Emily looked out of the window, anxiously waiting for Eric to appear out of nowhere covered completely in blood. She tried to ignore it. She bit her lip. She couldn't wait to arrive to the airport. She couldn't arrive soon enough. She was anxious.
They finally reached the airport in Buffalo. She grabbed her suitcase and walked through the terminal. She hugged her mother, cried, and followed a flight attendant to her flight. She bit her lip and nervously thought about what her uncle would be like. Would he like her? Would be be nice? Would he hate her? She hoped not. Would he be old or young? Emily tried her best not to fall asleep. She was practically the only one on the plane.
It took about three hours to fly from Buffalo, New York to Dodge City, Kansas. When the plane landed, she said a silent prayer that her uncle wouldn't be a complete weirdo. After all, her mother didn't have anything to do with him. She didn't even know about her uncle until today.
Emily walked off of the plane. She was instantly bombarded with a hug. She couldn't breathe. She looked at her uncle. His smile was extremely wide. His eyes were sparkling. She wanted to cry. Her uncle actually adored her. He was perfect looking, almost identical to her mother, like they were twins. Were they?
"Hello Emaline. Your mama didn't tell me that you were going to look so perfect. I'm your Uncle Hugh. Don't worry, I'll make you feel perfectly at home." Emily nodded. Her uncle grabbed her bags and walked to a truck. Emily got in the passenger seat and looked at the almost desolate Kansas scenery. She missed New York so much. Her uncle sighed. "I know that this is a big change from New York but this is where you were born, therefore, it is your home."
"It's just something to get used to. I've never really ever seen any tornadoes so that kinda scares me." Emily's uncle smiled and laughed a hearty laugh.
"Ah, tornadoes don't happen that much around these parts. Tornado Alley has essentially shifted east." Emily was surprised to hear her uncle's voice. She had heard it before when she was a baby and in some of her dreams. It was strange how she remember so much. He didn't have a southern accent. His voice was lovely and rich.
"Were you born and raised in Kansas? I don't mean to be stereotypical or anything but you don't have a southern accent like I thought that you would." Emily's uncle laughed yet another hearty laugh.
"Your mother and I were both born in the house that we will be calling home. We were raised there too. I don't have a southern accent because I prefer to sound rather sophisticated." Emily's uncle smiled. She looked out of her window. The sunrise was beautiful. Utterly beautiful.
"Wow the painted skies of Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas are real! You never get any of this is New York!" Emily stared in amazement. She loved it.
"Yes. Every sunrise and sunset is beautiful almost 365 days a year. It's something that most people take for granted. I certainly don't though. I've learned to appreciate the smaller things in life. Of course, that was only after your mother left." He seemed deeply saddened by this.
"I'm sorry. I'm sure that she had her reasons. Every kid wants to leave their hometowns." He smiled a sad smile.
"Yes, well, you'll learn soon enough why your mother left. She couldn't take the grief that comes with this family. She also didn't want you raised the same way that she was." Just like that the conversation ended, leaving Emily and her uncle in awkward silence. She hated the silence.
