After a short-ish walk, my house was in our sights. My mom knocked on the door, and it creaked open, then banging against the wall with the wind blowing through the house, flowing right out the door. My dad’s face craned from the bedroom. “Hey, are you okay? I drove myself mad while I was waiting for yout two?” He looked at me, then at my mom. There was some non-verbal conversation betweeen them which resulted in my dad coming forth to hug me. “Did they hurt you in the slightest?” He mumbled. “No, not at all.” I spoke through my dad’s belly. He hugged me tighter, and I heard my mom walk into our house. Its walls were sort of decorated, with bare brick being interrupted by some banners and red stains here and there. It had been standing there before we had come here, moving into it. It wasn’t that large, but it was well big enough to serve to a three-person family. My dad finally let me go and rushed back into their bedroom, closing the piece of cloth behind him which served as their door. I took some tired steps towards my room, getting ready to kamikaze into the bed. Then, just as I was preparing myself for that moment of absolute delight, my mom shoted out: “Patricia, come on over and eat something!” I felt stunned for a second because of that awkward interruption to my ritual before jumping on my bed. I shook my head. “No thanks mom, I’m full, and I’m sure. 100% sure.” I heard her speak to herself back at the kitchen. I then jumped right onto my bed, feeling- You know what? I’ll skip these useless parts for your own mental state. Even I’m getting bored telling how I was getting ready to jump on my damned bed. Anyway, where should I skip to? Oh, I know! Before that though, here’s a summary for the important thing in-between: My parents had decided that this settlement was no longer as safe, and we were moving away. In fact, most people with children were, as there aren’t many things that can worry a parent as the life of their child being under threat, and I can’t blame them, I think? So, as my parents were packing up and I was done, I had decided to check James, see how he was doing and stuff. It took me about fifteen minutes to walk there using a couple of shortcuts I knew. I saw that they were packing up as well, loading their heavy-looking boxes on a truck which sitting on a small area of bare earth. I sat down there and watched people load their boxes and other things onto the truck. I probably would have continued watching them if it wasn’t for James scaring the shit out of me by flicking on my shoulder. I looked up at him. He looked back at me, trying to raise a single eyebrow but moving the other one up as well. I pat on the ground next to me, and he sat down there. I twisted my mouth, and turned my head back towards him. “Where are you going now?” He shrugged. “I heard it was more to the east. You guys?” “West.” I answered. His shoulders dropped and looked at me. “That...” He frowned, looking like he was having a hard time finishing that sentence the right way. “...means-“ he continued. “-that we probably are never seeing each other again.” I finished. “Are you really okay?” I asked. He shrugged. I raised my eyebrows. He rolled his eyes. “Look, I am not but it has nothing to do with the killing.” I looked the other way, knowing where this was going, and I didn’t want him to see my expression. “You’re pretty much my only friend. I can’t afford to lose you. So don’t think I’m letting you go that easy.” I had thought that it was one of his empty Romeo speeches at the time (and you cannot blame me for that), but guess he could keep at least one word of his, but not a GODDAMN PENCIL. GIVE ME MY PENCIL BACK, YOU MORON. Can you believe that even after those 2 years, he hasn’t even mentioned it? What kind of monster with a pencil does that? Okay, okay, back to the story. So, they went off to whateverthefuckland, and I got to wait a bit more and cry in bed till our time to leave came as well.

If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.