Chapter Text
As I talk to my mother, I hear the wheels of the old trains outside creaking as they came and went. The train station was busy that day, but I had no idea why. I was thankful I wasn't outside anymore, though. It felt like the temperature was 96 outside and the line was so long! I thought I was going to be late, but I wasn't, thankfully.
"I didn't think you would leave home so early," my Mom said to me. I could hear the sadness in her voice.
She's right. My two older brothers, Sam and Anthony, moved out when they were 18 and going to college. I'm only 14.
"...Me neither," I replied.
I actually meant that. I sent in an application to move to Redwood only a month ago and they somehow ended up accepting it last week. I thought it would've taken years, since almost everyone I know wants to move to Redwood. It's a popular tourist destination, but they barely have any room for people to move there, as they want to keep the village as natural as possible. I love it when towns want to be natural and not urbanized. I prefer natural and rural towns over urbanized towns
"Riley, please send me letters when you can," Mom desperately begged as she got my long, black hair out of my eyes.
"I... I will," I stuttered quietly. I couldn't think of anything else to say.
That's when my mom broke down and started crying. All I could do was hug her. I wasn't embarrassed. Instead, I felt bad for her. She wasn't prepared for me to leave at all, and neither was I. She was acting the same way when she found about about my dad's death. She cried for days on end. She wouldn't speak to me and my brothers or do anything. We had to take care of ourselves. I was as devastated as my mother, but I had to help Sam and Anthony, so I kept going.
"S-sorry," she said after she calmed down a bit. She wiped the tears from her brown eyes.
"You're okay," I responded. Then, the intercom went off.
"Attention. The train for Redwood is now boarding. Eek eek."
This was it. In a few moments, I was going to be out on my own with nobody to support but myself, and my neighbors. I was so excited, but I was also nervous. I had never been on my own before. I was only 14 and I was already moving out. I started to think about what the town will be like before I was interrupted by Mom.
"I love you," she quietly said, "Go to the train now." She sounded emotionless when she said those last words.
I gave her a hug and a kiss. I started remembering all of the memories I had of me and my mom. Going to theme parks, baking cake together when I was really young, all of those sweet memories that I cherish.
"I love you, too," I replied. I was almost started to cry. I walked up to the train before I could, however. I scanned my ticket and went inside the crowded train. I was squished by animal fur and could barely see anything, but I still could see my mother waving at me.
"I'll miss you!" she screamed just before the doors closed.
I looked at her and waved goodbye. Her eyes were full of tears again. I started to feel bad for her again. I wished she could come with me, but she couldn't because of her job. Once the train had departed, I looked around.
Looking at all of these strangers, I realized I was on my own.