Jovial - Chapter Two

"Juni, here's a suitcase. Start packing."

I slowly take a brown leather suitcase from Auntie Viv, pasting on my best glum expression. And honestly, I really am feeling depressed. My heart is throbbing with such pain that I want to scream and run away.

Auntie Viv's lips depart ever so slightly, as if she wants to say something, but before she can, she immediately closes them. She shakes her head, and steps out of my room.

Three days have passed since that argument Auntie Viv and I had. Unfortunately, today's the day we're packing for London. So far, I haven't convinced Auntie Viv to stay here at Seattle one bit.

Yesterday I had the chance to say my last farewell to all my friends at Cascada Gates High School. We hugged, cried, and said how much we would miss each other. This is all happening too fast... I wish that the world would stop spinning and at least give me a chance to think.

I pack several tees, jeans, sweaters, and undergarments in the suitcase. Once I've finished, I loosen my red, braided hair by untwisting the strands and finger combing it into place. I take off my glasses, wipe them with my sweater sleeve, and set them on my bed. I walk out of my room and find Garette packing several bowls and cups from the kitchen.

"Tell Auntie Viv that I'm done packing. I'm gonna take a stroll outside." I mumble.

"Uh..." Garette starts to protest, but I stop him.

"I won't be long. Promise." I turn around and walk out the door without hearing another word come out from his mouth.

I huff warm air into my chilled fingers, then madly rub my palms together, trying to gather some heat. I walk down the sidewalk, noticing how the trees and rooftops of houses all around me are covered in frost. I am grateful that I wore my warm, gray Cascada Gates sweater. It has an interesting picture of a wolf on it, since that is our mascot. I smile, remembering all the good times I had there.

Like that one time when I twisted my ankle and my friend, Blaire, offered to take me home. That other time when my friend, Joseph, made me laugh so hard that milk dribbled out my nose. Or that other time when my friend, Adam, volunteered to help me on my history project and I ended up scoring an 'A' because of his useful help. I sure will miss it here.

I glance up, noticing the sky is a misty, bluish-gray. The sun looks faded behind the white clouds that stroll in front of it. They stroll by carelessly, slowly, as if they have all the time in the world.

That is what I am deeply wishing right now. Time.

I sigh, a thin ribbon of white fog swirling out of my mouth, reminding me of smoke. I close my eyes and inhale the chilly, clean Seattle air through my nostrils. The air that I have been breathing all my life. The one that I will be missing. The one that I will soon be breathing no more.

I blink back tears, refusing to sob in public. I do not want people to stare at me, thinking, "Wow. That girl must be having the worst time of her life."

Of course, I am. But I do not want them to know or think that.

I manage to paste a small smile on my face, to show the world that I am not having the worst time of my life. I want to show that there is definitely a sad situation going on, but I am strong enough to handle it. No more weeping, no more homesickness.

Just to be strong, say my final goodbyes, and move on.