"Hurry up Belle, we're going to be late for our flight." Mum yelled from downstairs. geez! if voices could bring down a building, this one could have probably gone down by now. I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling, thinking deeply about the fact that in a few hours from now, I'd be leaving Boston, my hometown, to some unknown city named Oakville. I did some research on the internet and also asked some of my friends who had people residing there and they said Oakville is a lot better than Boston but it doesn't change the fact that it's not home. I mean, I've never left here except on few occasions where I had to attend an event or two, or probably a vacation, and they were always at close range to Boston. I feel like my life is changing completely, no thanks to mum. I couldn't hate her more than I already do now. like seriously, where do I even start from? what about school, my friends? Just last week I found myself the most handsome boyfriend ever. what about him? and to think that we're moving because mum found her other piece like she said. It's unbelievable.
Over the years after Dad died in a terrible accident, mum and I had lived on our own trying to survive the best way possible. It hasn't been easy since then but we didn't have a choice, and then suddenly after four years in which if you ask me, is not enough to move on from someone who had been a lover, friend, father figure and even childhood playmate to you, but who am I to object mum. To her, I'm just a naive little kid and I had no right or say in the matter. and honestly it really wouldn't have been a bother if not that my life is now being affected.
" Young lady, do not piss me off, on ur feet! Jesus Christ, what have u been doing?" Mum barged into my room frowning and yelling. "Thinking mum, m sorry but I don't think I want to go with you, don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Besides I'm a grown Lady, I can take care of myself. 18 years is not a joke!" I snapped back at her. "Isabelle honey" this time she lowered her voice. "I understand this is hard on you, and it all happened too fast but we have to be reasonable here. This is an opportunity for us to move to greater heights. over there you really don't have to work part time, we'll get a good school, and you'll live your life exactly the way you wished." she said . " No mum, we can do all that here, besides I never complained about my work, we've been okay. For the past few months you've been financially stable. my school has never been a problem. and above all, Dad wouldn't want us out of this house mum, it's our home, a lot of memories.." Not again Belle." Mum interrupted. "I'm tired of you bringing up your dad each time we converse. Don't get me wrong sweetie but it's been four years already. even he would want us to move on.. don't you think? Right there I saw the sadness in her face as she spoke. then it dawned on me. she wasn't doing this for herself alone, she's looking out for us, our future. whoever this guy is, I'm pretty sure he's quite buoyant. and on top of that, mum must really love and trust him. it's not really easy to leave all u have behind to start afresh with someone you barely know. "Okay mum, I'll cooperate, but I'm not happy, this is me adhering to you because you're my mum and you know better what's best for us. But please mum, don't expect me to act all loving and caring in front of your fiance. I'm really not going to pretend" I said with every form of seriousness written all over my face. "He's the sweetest human I know asides you darling. I'm pretty sure you're going to like him" she tried to convince me but I didn't care if he was sweet or sour.this is going to be a huge change for me and there's no form of ecstasy within me right now.
The airport was crowded as usual. It makes me wonder why people keep traveling back and forth, it's not like we're in the holidays. mum left me to go clear our tickets and everything. I sat at the open space reserved for travelers, watching closely at every single person that passed by and wondering what their reason for traveling was. I know for sure none of them were in the same shoes as I. They all looked happy, both old and young. I focused on two little kids who seemed like they've lived longer than I have. they acted quite matured for their age as they sat, legs crossed with a glass of what I guess could be Chapman each on their right hands. They looked like twins but one was older than the other, and they obviously didn't look alike. Just as I was about to move to where they were, I heard my name, at first it sounded like an echo, but then I heard it again, this time more clearly.
"Isabelle". I knew that voice anywhere, asides my mum, there was only one person who called me by my full name. I turned around and amidst the crowd, I sighted my closest friend from school, Tasha. Behind her were two other people who looked really familiar. I walked to their direction and immediately recognized them, one was my other friend Veronica and my boyfriend thomas who technically is about to become my ex after a one week relationship. I stood waiting for them to come closer as I contemplated what to tell them. I wonder how they found out. my plan was to tell them after my arrival because it all came suddenly and I really didn't know how to break the news to them.
" Hey belle, what's up, you know you deserved to be hanged, flogged and hanged again." Veronica said as she came close to me and hugged me tightly. "I'm really sorry guys, but how did you find out?" I asked. "No, we should be the ones throwing the questions ok, like bloody hell, you were trying to elope without telling us, what kind of friend does that?" I could see the rage and anger on Tasha's face as she spatted those words out. "Okay Tash. firstly, I wasn't trying to elope, that word is only used when you're trying to sneak off with a guy, secondly I had no choice okay. mum caught me by surprise just as you're now. I know I should've told you guys, my bad, but I really didn't know how to, I felt extremely bad myself because I'm not happy about it honestly." I tried to make them see reasons while I still wondered who could have let the cat out of the bag. "Your mum called us this morning to meet you guys at the airport and only briefed us about it, what's actually going on Belle?" Thomas asked looking all worried and frustrated. "Babe I'm so sorry, I know you're all angry right now but..." I couldn't complete my statement before a tear dropped without me realizing. " oh come on Belle, no tears okay. if it's hard for you right now, you can hold it off till you get there okay." Thomas tried to comfort me. "Listen Belle, we're not trying to pressurize you, we're your friends and it's our responsibility to look out for you. we just don't get why you're moving suddenly and that's what we need explanation for" Veronica said. "Well all I can tell you guys right now is that mum's about to be remarried. apparently her supposed suitor is on the other side of the planet. Oakville, Canada to be precise. I got the news just three days ago and here we are, on our way to a different location leaving me dumbfounded still." I said with a shaky voice. "Ouch that's a lot babe, I understand what you must be going through" Thomas said, stroking my chin. "Okay that's enough lovebirds, it seems this is goodbye then." Tash concluded almost in tears. they all gave me a warm tight hug. and just then, I saw mum walking towards us with two cups of coffee in her hands. "Awwn look who we have here. guys I'm terribly sorry for this sudden change but the universe has other plans for us. don't worry tho, it's not the end of the world, and Belle can always visit whenever she wants to. that's not a problem." mum told them, acting all emotional and concerned. "Honey, we need to go now" she urged me. " okay guys, I guess this is it. will do well to call, text, facetime, I could even appear whenever you utter my name. "oh really, cos darling, I'm definitely going to call your name a thousand times over" Thomas said jokingly and we all laughed. I waved them goodbye as I left them feeling really bad. As we walked towards the terminal, I looked back at my friends, still waving at me. there were words left unsaid, feelings unexpressed, and suddenly I realized, this is a going to be a new chapter of my life, a new phase, and it's up to me to explore it or waste away my youth by acting all sober and depressed. immediately I raised my shoulders high and with a broad smile on my face, I looked forward to what life has to offer me.
