April 13th {2007}

I stood silently in front of my window, the last of my unpacked clothes at my sides.

Out of the street, my neighborhood friends rode their bikes, played games such as tag and basketball and laughed.

Oh how I wanted to be down there with them, sharing their laughter and beating them in a nice basketball game.

Outside my room a soft thud of a suitcase hitting the hardwood floor drew my attention from the window and to the noise.
Standing in my doorway was my mum, a small smile on her face.

"Lyelle dear, are you ready to go?" She asked with a voice as sweet as honey.

I sighed quietly to myself and shoved the last of my clothes into my open suitcase and quickly zipped it up.

"I will be down in a minute mum." I replied, lifting the heavy blue suitcase to its feet.
"Alright, well hurry up. We don't want to miss our plane." She said, turning away from my room and starting down the hallway, the soft purr of the wheels against the floor drifting my mind to the sad thought of leaving the only home I ever knew.

I didn't want to be the new girl. I hated it, not because I hated moving, but because everyone was prejudice and saw me as some unknown creature from the depths of hell.

Hell. I chuckled, moving out of the country to a place I have only read in books was hell. I have never once stepped foot in America, so I have no thoughts on what life will be like for me there.

Sighing once more, I pulled the handle up on my suitcase and dragged it across the floor towards my bedroom door.

With one quick glance at the violet painted walls, shiny wooden flooring and the light reflecting off the window-casting it's soft golden glow around the room-I stepped out of the room and shut the door behind me with a soft click.

I was now standing in the dark hallway, staring at the blank egg shell painted walls thinking of all the moments I had ever had in this house.

I frowned and pushed those thoughts away and started down the long hallway to the spiral staircase that twisted into the living room.

At the bottom of the stairs, mum stood holding her purse in one hand and the handle to her suitcase in the other.

Her lightly curled caramel hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall, the late afternoon sun that burst through the windows glistened beautifully against her causing her to sparkle.

Her vibrant green eyes and rose colored lips held a smile when she saw me.

I forced a smile upon my lightly tinted pink lips and took the last two steps down the stairs so that now we were facing one another.

"Ready?" She asked me. 

Did I have a choice? I nodded slightly and started towards the front door.

Mum pushed her purse onto her shoulder and rached for my hand, pulling my back towards her.

Her warm hand against mine was conforting as she pulled me from my home.

"Go get into the car honey, I will get these." Mum said letting go of my hand. I nodded and handed her the handle to my suitcase and ran across our green lawn to the silver rental car before me.

I pulled open the door to see my carseat already in place for me.

I sighed and climbed into my seat and pulled the seatbelt over me just as mum climbed into the drivers seat.

Setting the key into the ignition, I listened as the car burst to life and the soft hum of some song began playing on the radio.

Mum spared a quick glance my way and I began to squirm slightly in my seat.

"Ready?' She asked me again as I pulled my knee length blue polkadotted dress over the top of my green rubber rain boots.

I nodded again and she did the same, turning her back towards me.

Her hand reached for the stick shift and I watched as she pulled it back into drive.

When she started off, my fingers lightly brushed the window as I watched my home get swolled up by trees and other homes.

_ _ _

By the time we pulled into the airport parking lot, the sun was beginning to set, painting the sky with reds, pinks, oranges and the occasional purple.

I brushed my fingers against the window and watched the colors murge together ever so slowly as the sun slowly decends from the sky for the night.

Mum pulled to a stop and turned the car off casuing a deafening silence to fill the small space.

"We're early." I heard her mumble before she climbed out of the car.

My brows furrowed and I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and jumped out of the car just as she set my suitcase down at my feet.

"Hungry?" She asked me, taking my hand in hers.

I nodded and she did the same before pulling me inside the looming building before us.

When we finished eating and were full, Mum took my hand and led us to our plane.

Mum reached into her purse and pulled our tickets out and handed them to the flight attendent before we stepped onto the platform and searched for our seats.

Once we found them, Mum took my hand and kissed it. "Everything will be alright my sweet Lyelle. We're starting a new life baby." She whispered to me.

I nodded, and laid my head on her arm, snuggling up close to her.

I believed her.

Maybe it was possible to have a perfect new life, I just have to believe.