We'll miss you

After bidding farewell to Rya and leaving the hotel, I made my way home, my heart heavy with a mixture of excitement and trepidation. Tomorrow, I would be embarking on a new chapter in my life, one filled with promise and opportunity. But first, I needed to pack.

As I entered the house, I found my mother in the living room, surrounded by a mountain of clothes. She looked up as I entered, a bright smile lighting up her face.

"Eileen, darling, you're home," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with excitement. "Come help me pack your suitcase."

I chuckled softly, making my way over to where she sat. "Sure thing, Mom," I said, giving her a quick hug before turning my attention to the task at hand.

Together, we began sorting through the piles of clothes, selecting the ones that would accompany me to university. But as my mother began to stuff them into the suitcase, I couldn't help but shake my head.

"Mom, I think that's enough," I protested, eyeing the bulging suitcase warily. "I don't think it's going to close."

But my mother was determined, her brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to force the suitcase shut. With a grunt of effort, she pushed down on the lid, but to no avail – the suitcase simply refused to cooperate.

In the end, all of its contents ended up spilled out onto the floor, my mother sighing in frustration as she surveyed the mess. "I should have bought a bigger suitcase," she muttered, shaking her head.

I couldn't help but laugh at the sight, the absurdity of it all washing over me in waves. Leave it to my mother to turn something as simple as packing a suitcase into a comedic spectacle.

But amidst the laughter and chaos, there was a sense of warmth and love that filled the room, a reminder of the bond between mother and daughter that would carry us through even the most trying of times.

With a sigh, I knelt down beside my mother, helping her gather up the scattered clothes. "Don't worry, Mom," I said, my voice soft with affection. "We'll figure it out."

And as we worked together to repack the suitcase, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the moments like these – moments of laughter and love that reminded me of just how lucky I was to have my mother by my side even if because of me we were poor now.

The next morning arrived with a sense of anticipation and nervous energy that stirred within me like a restless tide. I woke up before the crack of dawn, the soft light filtering in through the curtains casting a gentle glow over the room. With a sense of purpose, I rose from bed, the excitement of the day ahead propelling me forward.

Determined to clear my mind before the chaos of the day took hold, I embarked on my usual 5 km walk. The streets were quiet at this early hour, the cool morning air invigorating as it filled my lungs with each breath. With each step, I felt a sense of calm wash over me, the rhythmic motion of my feet against the pavement grounding me in the present moment.

Returning home, I took a quick shower, the warm water washing away the remnants of sleep and preparing me for the day ahead. As I dressed, my eyes fell upon the small bag of gold coins that lay on my bedside table, a tangible reminder of the journey I was about to embark on.

With trembling hands, I counted out the coins, the metallic clink of each one echoing in the quiet of the room. To my surprise and relief, I found that I had amassed enough – a thousand gold coins, enough to enroll in university and begin the next chapter of my life.

A sense of pride swelled within me as I tucked the coins safely away, the weight of them a comforting reassurance that I was one step closer to achieving my dreams.

As I made my way downstairs, my mother greeted me with a warm smile, her eyes shining with pride and love. Together, we wrestled the overstuffed suitcase downstairs, the old wooden stairs creaking beneath the weight of our burden.

Once downstairs, we were met with a scene straight out of a melodrama. A car was waiting outside, its tired frame a testament to years of faithful service. Tears glistened in my mother's eyes as she hugged me tightly, her embrace filled with a mixture of joy and sorrow.

Elise, my best friend, stood beside her, her face a mask of conflicting emotions. I could see the tears welling in her eyes, the silent sobs threatening to spill over as she struggled to hold them back.

My father, stoic as ever, stood nearby, his gaze fixed on the ground as if unable to bear the weight of the moment. But even he couldn't hide the tremor in his voice as he spoke.

"Take care of yourself, Eileen," he said, his words heavy with emotion. "We'll miss you."

Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I hugged each of them in turn, the lump in my throat threatening to choke me. But even as I felt the weight of their emotions pressing in on me, I knew that I had to be strong.

With a final wave goodbye, I climbed into the car, the familiar scent of leather and old upholstery enveloping me like a comforting embrace. As we pulled away from the curb, I stole one last glance at my family, their figures fading into the distance as we drove off into the unknown.

And only then, as the reality of my departure sank in, did the tears finally come. But even as they streamed down my cheeks, a sense of determination burned within me – I was ready to face whatever the future held, armed with nothing but a suitcase full of dreams and a heart full of hope.