The following story has been revised.
Elise
"Check your room, make sure nothing's getting left behind."
What was the point?
Every time I left out of my room he would only sent me right back. Did I forget stuff often? Yes. But wasting my energy and time by sending me over and over again to my room was a bit of a stretch.
I glanced over what was now my old and empty room. Apart of me was really going to miss this place. Although I didn't have much in terms of friends, the ones I did have would be too far away to keep up with. I walked towards my closet and slid open the door.
I would always hide in here when the world felt too heavy.
Where will I hide now?
In the corner of the closet was a bracelet. I reached down and picked it up, rolling it over to read the name engraved.
Christie.
I let out a deep sigh, "Mom."
I can't believe I almost left the only she'd given me. This was the only memory of her that didn't seem fake. I pushed the bracelet to my chest before shoving it into my pants pocket.
I shouldn't let dad see this.
"Are you ready Eli?" Dad called.
"Yeah, dad I'm done up here." I responded closing my bedroom door for the last time.
Days before we donated almost all of my things. Dad said I would only need my clothes and anything I deemed of importance. The new home was supposedly, fully furnished and filled with things that I would supposedly like. Although, I've never liked anything. I never had time too, I was always working to help dad pay for the bills which was why this sudden move seemed sort of eerie to me.
"You're really going to love the new place El." Dad said placing the final few suitcases in the car.
"I liked it here."
Dad sighed as he started up the car. I didn't mean to come off as disrespectful. I loved my dad, he was pretty much the only person I've had my entire life.
But,
This was the last place I saw mom.
He knew how hard it would be for me to give all of this up. To give the last bit of her up.
"Look, just try to be happy." Dad asked offering me a smile.
"I'm not, not happy dad," I turned away to face the window, "I just would have preferred staying home."
The rest of the car ride was riddled with dad trying to convince me of why change was good. But, my mind was far more focused on all the things we passed as we drove, especially the trees. When I was younger mom and dad would always take me on walks. There was always a picnic hidden on the walks, always by the biggest tree. That all seemed so long ago.
Was that even real?
"You just gonna stare out that window Elise?"
"Huh?" I looked over at dad who was getting out of the car. I guess I was in thought for awhile, I hadn't noticed we stopped moving.
"That was fast." I looked over at dad who had his eye brows furrowed.
"Yeah for you, for me that was a four hour drive." He stated.
"Four hours?" I questioned.
Whenever I thought about mom, I'd get carried away.
"Yeah, what were you thinking about for so long?" He asked handing me one of my suitcases from the truck.
