Emily moped around the house with Banjo, the ticking clock amplifying the fleeting hours until their return flight to Madison. “Dang it—why does time seem to speed up when it’s close to leaving?” she thought morosely. She walked slowly, trailing her fingers along every surface, trying to imprint every detail in her memory—the smell of pine that permeated the house, the pictures of Sarah and Uncle Jack growing up, the bed in the guest room, the railings on the staircase, the old couch her grandfather napped on - everything she had become familiar with over this trip. Each touch and scent was an attempt to hold onto the precious moments with her grandparents.
Logically, endings are inevitable—even Daniel had reluctantly accepted this reality, albeit with a sarcastic edge, questioning why his physical and mental torment seemed exempt from it. The child in Emily, however, struggled immensely with the thought of leaving her grandparents. After all, one of the best things that can happen to a child is having loving grandparents.
As the departure loomed, Emily desperately wished the universe would grant her just one more day—one more precious day with her grandparents and the comfort of their home. “I know I met them not too long ago,” she thought ruefully, “but I feel like I’ve known them forever—across space and time even. I don’t know why.” Unconsciously, Emily hovered around her grandmother as she packed, always staying within her periphery, seeking comfort in their shared presence. When not with Joan, she found solace by her grandfather on the couch, leaning in slightly just to remind herself he was still there. "Daniel—not now—just let it go. Let me be a kid and enjoy time with my grandfather," she mumbled to herself, feeling old anxieties creeping in occasionally.
Sarah noticed Emily was off and attempted cheering her up playfully, but she too seemed sad in her own way about leaving her parents. After all - she was their kid too - and which child adult or not with a half-decent relationship, would want to leave their parents, especially when they live so far away? Emily saw her mom's efforts, recognizing the sorrow behind her smiles. In a rare moment of clarity amidst her own sadness, Emily felt a surge of adult empathy.
She walked over to Sarah and wrapped her arms around her. "It’s okay, Mom. I know you're hurting too in your own way. Don’t worry about me; this too shall pass," she said, her voice carrying a wisdom beyond her years. Sarah's eyes widened at this unexpected empathy, tears welling up as she felt the sincerity in Emily's words. She knelt down to Emily's level, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Thank you, sweetheart," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I needed that."
Emily held her mom close, a sense of peace wash over both of them. In that moment, the roles seemed to blur, as both adult and child found solace in each other's arms. As they shared this connection - the house around them just a bit felt warmer, the impending departure less daunting.
As the luggage was loaded into Ken and Joan’s vehicle, Emily knelt down to say goodbye to Banjo, who seemed to sense her sadness. She buried her face in his soft fur, whispering a plea that only the dog could hear. "Look after them, Banjo, and look after yourself, OK?" Banjo seemed to understand, responding with a wet lick to her face, which made Emily smile despite her heavy heart.
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Everyone piled into Ken and Joan’s car for the drive back to the airport. Emily was unusually quiet, glancing back at the house. "Will this place ever change? I hope not…I would love it to stay the same," she thought, taking in the sights and sounds of Port Jefferson as the car slowly meandered through the narrow streets. "I hope…this isn’t the last time I see this place," she wished with all the depth of both her and Daniel’s hearts.
The entire drive, Emily reflected on everything she had learned and experienced during this incredible trip. Her grandparents' stories, exploring Port Jefferson, the hugs and cuddles with her grandparents, her journey of self-discovery at Stony Brook, time with Banjo, and watching her parents laugh—it all made her feel that her universe was exceptionally complete. She got misty-eyed thinking about Daniel’s deceased grandparents. "I miss you too…I hope you are okay wherever you are. I love Joan and Ken as much as I loved you. I am so lucky to have so many grandparents who care for me in return," she prayed silently to the universe.
As the troop reached the airport, Emily silently hoped that any force would stall the trip home —maybe a flat tire, a canceled flight, anything—but alas there was no reprieve. Emily stood and watched her family unload their suitcases, feeling a pang of longing. “I wish I had Daniel’s body just for this moment…to be part of all of this,” she thought.
"Well, Ken, Joan," declared Thomas with his hand on the luggage cart, "thank you as always for everything."
Sarah, close to tears, hugged her parents tightly. "You must visit us in Madison for Christmas or whenever you can," she insisted.
Ken knelt down to Emily's level, his eyes twinkling with mixed emotions. "Well, Emily, it was so good to finally see you. We had fun, didn’t we?" he said, gently poking her nose.
Joan, with a sad smile, added, "I hope we meet again soon, Em. Be safe, be good, and listen to your parents."
Emily nodded silently, her own eyes misty as she looked at each of them. "Time to be going, kiddo," said Thomas gently. Sarah took Emily’s hand, and they started walking towards the departure gate. Emily glanced back over her shoulder at her grandparents, who were still standing there, waving to them.
Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of emotion gripped Emily. She tore her hand away and, with every ounce of determination, ran back to Ken and Joan. She flung herself into their arms, tears streaming down her cheeks as she buried her face in Ken’s overcoat. "Thank you—both of you—I’m going to miss you. I don’t want to go," she sobbed, her voice trembling with emotion.
Daniel had always struggled to express love—after years of trauma and isolation, it was an elusive and difficult emotion to fully grasp at best. But now, something deep within Emily had healed, allowing her to softly add, "I love you so…fudging…much…" The unexpected choice of words elicited a much-needed burst of laughter from all the adults.
"Ah…language, Emily…language," her grandmother chuckled, bending down to hug her tightly. Ken, his face lit up with a mischievous smile, added, "Ah, it’s okay this once," as he joined in the embrace.
In that singular moment, all of Emily’s fears and uncertainties melted away. She had no questions, no lingering thoughts of Daniel; she was simply a beloved grandchild, enveloped in the unconditional love of her doting grandparents.