The Start Of Another...

Chapter 1 

She and her brother pulled up to her parent's house. Their childhood loomed over them in the best way. She took in a sharp breath through her nose; feeling her body become rigid. She looked over at her brother who sat forward leaning on the wheel of his car, staring. The longer they sat in front, the faster the house waved at them, coaxing them in. This was the house the two grew up in. It carried tears, laughter, jokes, heartbreaks, and a warm hug when the world turned cold. The way that the light shone in on those summer evenings or the way that it danced in color as the sunset. How it encouraged them to hold hands with the raindrops as they gathered into puddles on the grass or to glide through the snowflakes that painted the fields. Her memories flashed before her as she reached for the car door to walk closer to her goodbye. Her brother followed, but with a touch less sentimental weight than she was carrying. The front door approached, and although it had been several years since this address had been their permanent one, they opened the front door with no second thought. They marched in tandem over the threshold.

“Mom!” She called.

“Dad!” Her brother yelled after her. 

“Oh there you two are, I was just about to see where you both were at.” Their mom approached them, squeezing them both tightly.

“Oh, yeah, took a wrong turn.” Her brother lifted a shoulder nonchalantly. Their mother gave him an unamused look over her shoulder. 

“Mmhm, sure.” Their mom turned back to the directions she came from beckoning them to follow. And they did. As she walked, she tilted her head in her brother's direction, lifting her eyebrows with a look of “Really?”. He shrugged her off.

Chapter 2

As they left the entryway and walked deeper into the house, passing the formal dining room used for Thanksgiving and the office where she had spent many hours pretending to be a spy, they came upon the open kitchen that shared space with the living room. It smelled nostalgic of fresh cut grass and flowers. Small things had changed in the house over the lifetime she had roamed each room, but the tone of the home always remained the same. She felt comfortable. Until her mom brought her back into reality. “There are more boxes over there and I know that we cleared out both of your rooms a while ago, but I have some of your things in boxes in a few closets that will be going home with you!” She added a pause after “will” for dramatic emphasis. Right, the mission at hand. This wasn’t a social visit, this was to pack up your whole childhood into boxes and prepare your house to be occupied by strangers who, in all honesty, probably smell a little funny. A nightmare. But, she was a grown adult with now her own home. Ok, she rented, but it was still hers. She would accept the emotional maturity that was being handed to her with a smile and a deep breath. I think the box comment threw her brother for a loop too, because she saw him shake his head and then step forward to retrieve an empty box.

“I’ll start packing books. That feels like a safe place where I won’t get in trouble if something breaks.” Her brother headed into the living room.

“Knowing you, they'll end up finding some way to break.” She deadpanned, tone laced in warm humor. He returned a placating smile. Her mission was photos. Daunting. 

“So, should I start upstairs?” She looked over to her mom who was digging in a drawer for a Sharpie. She could hear her dad in the yard shuffling around. She knew this was hard for her, but she moved out years ago. She had already said her partial goodbyes. She knew that this must be killing her parents or maybe they were ready to go. But still, walking away from the home that you built your family in, where the ghost of babies echoed in the hall, or where laughter soaked into the floorboards, and moments of growth resided on the back of doors with each little date in a different color. Where driving lessons dented the garage, and where the smoke from our birthday candles stained the backsplash. To her, this was a home, a place where her ring scratched the banister leaving a permanent mark or where the fridge opened a little too quickly leaving a scar on her left ankle. But, for her parents, this was a life they were saying goodbye to.

Chapter 3

“You almost done up here?” Her dad’s head slowly grew larger as he ascended the stairs to where she was sprawled out on the floor with two full boxes and one half full with photographs fanned out around her. She studied each one closely allowing each memory, story, or person to invent time travel.

“Yeah, just finishing up.” She said face deep in a framed photo of her and her brother when they were itty bitty kids. Then she methodically wrapped it in white tissue and hid it deep in the open box.

“How you doin - kid?” Her father picked up one of the many frames awaiting its destiny. 

“I’m sad to see it go, but I know that you will be happy in your new place. You both were due for a downsize.” She wasn’t sure if she even convinced herself with how her voice seemed to explore an octave higher. 

“I know it's hard, I remember bouncing you on my knee right downstairs. But, without change how are we expected to grow? The house is just a house, it’s the people and the memories that make it a home.” He replaced the photo he was holding and gave her a warm smile. “We’ll get through this, as long as your mother doesn’t need to make another box run to the Goodwill, that guy was messing with the wrong woman.” With his eyes wide he shook his head and turned to head back downstairs. “Don’t forget we have all of downstairs to get through too, so don’t take too long.” And with that, he was gone. But, his words lingered. “I am saying goodbye to a chapter.” She whispered to herself. 

“Gosh, how are you not done yet?” Her brother appeared. “I’ve finished the books and all the blankets and things.” He looked smug as he perched his chin on the banister. 

“Well some of us are actually allowed to pack the valuables which takes a little longer.” She placed another wrapped frame into the now almost full box. “Isn’t this sad for you?”

“I mean yeah, but no use crying over spilled milk. It was going to happen sooner or later. Had a lot of good times in this house though… but those good times aren’t staying at the house.” He said warmly. “I am going to miss the pool.” He looked lost in a daydream but snapped out of it. “Oh right, mom wanted to see you.” 

She flicked her wrist toward the photos before her.

“I think I can handle wrapping up a few fragile things.” He loomed over her ready to take her seat. 

Chapter 4 

Her mom was gathering dishes when she walked into the kitchen. She moved further into the open room. “What’s up?” She sat on the arm of the couch.

Her mom walked over to her and drew her into a tight hug. “Life feels a little uncomfortable at the moment.” 

She hugged her back. “But, sometimes an adjustment is just what we need.” She pulled back a little and gave her mom a soft smile. “End of an era, but start of another.”

Chapter 5 

I’ve been a little MIA because… I moved!! Which is what inspired this post. I had a unique childhood. My whole family lived in both Colorado and Kauai growing up. A few years ago we said goodbye to my childhood home in Colorado and this past month we said goodbye to Kauai. There is something heavy that comes with parting from a building that held us in some of the best and worst times in our lives. I am more sentimental than most, but I think we can all agree that saying goodbye is hard even if it is to an inanimate object. And I don’t think we talk enough about the pain that comes with letting go and the joy that comes with a new chapter. I am sad to leave the walls that watched me grow from an energetic three-year-old to an adult figuring life out. But, although the walls stay, the memories come with. 

It has been a whirlwind of a month, but I am excited for this new season of life and all that it holds. I hope these past few weeks have been good and that you have an amazing weekend. Don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new post, follow on Instagram, share The Allie-Way with someone, and let me know what you think about the post. I love reading topic ideas or what you think. Thanks for reading Allie-Cats!

• Dru Allie