Almost a stranger

Saying goodbye

I'm Abigail and I'm 17. Despite the life of other teenagers, my life is slightly different. My mom divorced a year after I was born and her happiness is in my first place. She's a lawyer and her working hours are most days stretched.

We live in Dallas, Texas. Our house is pretty small, but at least there's a yard I used to play in when I was a kid. Just like every summer, I was saying goodbye to my friends- Joy and Kelsey. Joy was taller than me and she has long blond hair. Despite her light and sweet appearance, she was pretty dark and depressed from the inside. With problems in her family, she never had any friends until me and Kelsey.

On the other hand, Kesey is always happy and optimistic. Sometimes too much. Everything is so beautiful and great in her eyes. But they're both great friends and good people. Every year is hard to say goodbye to them. We were at the airport, waiting for my plane. My mom was sitting and canceling all her meetings for the next three weeks. I was standing in the middle of the airport with Joy and Kelsey.

Joy: I'm gonna miss you so much!
Kelsey: Yeah, me too! I wish I can disappear for three weeks.
Abigail: I'm not gonna disappear. We'll talk every day, I promise.
Joy: Yeah, until you find someone in Florida.
Abigail: Me? Common, you know me...
Kelsey: Nerd at school, God knows what on vacation.
Abigail: Stop it. Just like every summer, I won't find anyone.
Kelsey: We'll see about that.
Joy: Anyway, have a great time. And text us sometimes.
Abigail: Of course. Bye girls.
Kelsey: Bye.

The three of us hugged when we heard a voice through the airport,
"Flight from Dallas to Tampa departs for 10 minutes. All passengers..."

Joy: Bye Aby.
Kelsey: Take care.
Abigail: Bye!

I was running toward my mom who was still on the phone. We took our suitcases and walked toward the entrance of a plane.

I was looking out of the window. My vacation is officially starting. My mom ordered a glass of champagne and we toasted for our three weeks long vacation. The school was over, my mom doesn't have to work anymore... perfect.

Looking at my mom and me, we are not much alike. I'm short with long dark hair and she's tall with short blond hair. I always admired her. She was working all day, having a divorce behind her, and took care of me- but still, she looked so young. Like she's in her 20s, not 30s. Life didn't spare her, but time did. I wish I was like her when I grow up.

Molly: Are you excited about our vacation?
Abigail: Of course! That's the best part of the year!
Molly: I know! I can't wait for late-night swimming, barbecue with neighbors, movie-nights...
Abigail: Me too. This will be the best summer yet.
Molly: You say that every year.
Abigail: I know, I know. But this will be, for real.

The five hours long flight was surprisingly comfortable. We were driving by taxi to our house. It was a big house that my grandparents left us. Mostly, that house was rent by tourists. It was another job my mom was doing.

But every year, for three weeks, the house was ours. It was a perfect opportunity for my mom to see what was happening over the year. The taxi stopped and we were in front of a big, white house with three floors.

Molly: We're here!

We both ran toward the house and opened the doors. Inside was clean and pretty luxurious. Despite there was no one around, the house seemed full. Furniture, paintings, and decorations were all around the house.

Molly: You get ready for the beach and I'll come for a few minutes.

I went to the second floor. My mom and I took the same rooms every time. They were both small- just to put our clothes in. Most times we would fall asleep on the couch watching a movie. Everything that was in my suitcase was now in the closet. I got my backpack and put sunscreen in it along with a towel, book, and white dress for after swimming.

I came downstairs and saw my mother on the phone. She was still in the clothes she came in and she was walking up and down the house. When she looked at me, she said,
"I'll call you in a minute."

Molly: You look great, sweetie.
Abigail: I know and why don't you?
Molly: Look, I have to get over with one of the clients. Go to the beach we're always on and I'll come for half an hour.
Abigail: I can wait for you.
Molly: No need. Go and have some fun.
Abigail: Okay. Hurry.
Molly: I will.

I was walking toward the sand beach we were always on. With my sunscreen on, lying on the deck chair, I took my book and started reading. Such a beautiful day for reading the book on a beach. After a few pages, I saw a group of people my age coming to the beach. It was surprising since I never saw them before.

The faces on this beach rarely changed, mostly older people were here. The group was going toward the wooden mole in a distance. Despite how far they were, I could hear their voices- laughing. Four guys and two girls were now jumping from the mole. The water there was probably really deep- which I'm not the biggest fan of. I would never do something like that- dangerous, stupid, and unnecessarily.

Molly: Dangerous?
Abigail: And unnecessarily.
Molly: You sound like 50 years old grandma.
Abigail: Thank you very much. Let's keep it that way.

My mom had a white two-piece swimsuit and she looked gorgeous.

Molly: How's the water?
Abigail: Like every year.
Molly: You didn't even try it?
Abigail: No. These guys are in the middle of a fight right now.

I showed my book. 
Molly: So will we be if you don't come with me.

My mom took the book and threw it in the bag.

Molly: Common!

She was yelling while she was running toward the water. Like I'm the one having a child here...