Ordinary

Chapter 1 ~ The Journey Begins

        Finally, the last bag was packed, down to the last package of crackers and article of clothing. Inside, I could hear my mom talking excitedly to her friends about the amazing journey I would be embarking on. I couldn’t hear exactly what she was saying, but I just knew she was going on and on about how much I made her proud. I cringed at the thought. When I was little, I always wanted to make her proud, not be disappointed. She never showed her pride for me.

          I shut the cover of my truck bed, making sure everything was secure. My mom said she loved me, but she didn’t even help me pack everything into my truck. I had to admit, it was going to be a relief to leave her. Although, I did feel a bit guilty. She wasn’t with my dad anymore and had no other children except my sister, but she was already in her late twenties. I always had this gnawing pain deep in my stomach that wouldn’t go away because I was too ordinary for my mom. I never did think I made her proud.

          For the last time before I left, I set foot in my house. I passed my mom and her friends and stood in the doorway of my soon-to-be old room. I learned on the doorframe and sighed as I looked at the neat and tidy room. Nothing was out of place. But, it was empty. No clothes, no books, no food, no art supplies, and not even a pencil lay in the room. This was my last reminder that I would leave the hell that made me think terrible things. I was soon to be far, far away from my hometown, farther than I had ever gone by myself. This was going to be a fresh breath of air.

          Behind me crept up my mother. She turned me around and hugged me around the shoulders. The slightly shorter woman held me like that for a few moments, her grip almost deathly. I hugged her back, but finally had to break the hug. I loved my mother, but I wanted to leave as soon as possible.

          My mom let out a heavy sigh. “I just don’t know what I’m going to do without my baby…”

          “Geez, mom!” I whine. “I’m not a baby anymore. I graduated high school and I’m going across the country on my own. I don’t think a baby has that many achievements!” As usual, my odd humor made its way into my sentence.

          “I know, Paige, but you’re my baby.”

          “Mama, I’m not dying. I’m not gonna leave you forever.”

          “I know… well, I should probably let you leave, then. You’re burning daylight!”

          I chuckled at my mother’s forced enthusiasm. “Alright.” I gave her one last quick hug. “Bye, Mom. I love you.”

          She let out another heavy sigh. “I love you too, baby. You don’t know how proud I am.”

          I flinched at her words.

          “I know you’re going to do extraordinary things soon.”

          My stomach started to churn.

          “And when you do that, you’re going to come back here and take care of me. You’ll buy me a house, a new car, everything.”

          My teeth grit against each other in anger. I knew this was coming.

          Keeping my composure, I walked out of the hallway and towards the front door. Before I left, I waved to my mom’s friends. Then I looked at my mom and reluctantly gave her a thumbs up.

As I turned out the door, I pulled my headphones up from around my neck to cover my ears. I was blasting rock music as I entered and started up my Toyota Tacoma. I adjusted my rearview mirrors and saw a sight that made me jump. I turned around to see if the sight was reality. Of course, it was not. I didn’t just see my deceased best friend sitting in the backseat, putting on her best smile and waving with her index finger like she used to do when we were kids. No. She wasn’t there. Maybe in spirit, but not in a physical body.