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I wrestled the last, stubborn suitcase, the one that held the last of my belongings. I grunted with effort, forcing the zipper to cooperate.
When it was finally secured, I let out a sigh of relief and fell to the cold tile floor, supporting my back against the suitcase itself, huffing with slight exhaustion.
I was tired, unbelievably tired, but satisfied with my work and ready to leave this town.
"You look like you're about to pass out." Said a voice that I knew very well.
My gaze fell upon my sister as she looked around my now bare room, lips pressed together and blonde hair in a tangle.
"That's because I am about to pass out." I replied, letting my head fall back on the suitcase.
Avery let out a ghost of a laugh and entered my room, sitting cross-legged beside me. The two of us sat in silence, taking in the empty room.
It was always a strange sensation to view your room, after it had been stripped of everything that made it a living space. Empty walls, empty windows, empty floors. Just bare.
This room carried a lot of my childhood memories, countless sleepovers, late-night study sessions and show binging, falling asleep after a long- yet good- day. It was witness to all sorts of emotions, crying with despair, laughing with child-like happiness, hiding with embarrassment and controlling utter rage.
And now it was just empty, like a fresh canvas, as if nothing had ever happened here, as if this room was never lived in to begin with.
"How do you feel?" Avery asked, staring off aimlessly into the ceiling.
Out of habit, I hummed in question. "Hm? "
Avery looked down at my face and gestured to the walls with a hand. "You know, about moving?"
I replied with an instinctive response, I had been asked that question many times already. "Mixed emotions, sad to leave you, happy to leave."
"Are you sure about this?"
Straightening upwards, I replied without thinking twice. "Totally sure."
"But why-" She sighed and cut herself off. At this point, we both knew how that conversation would go.
Avery had given up on trying to make me stay, much like my father had. After a long month of trying to change my mind, both of them offered me their support.
They disagreed with my choices, but wished me nothing but satisfaction and happiness, and if leaving the town would give me that, then they supported it.
However, there still would be hopeful (yet useless) attempts like this one, where I always felt bad shutting them out, I couldn't change my mind.
I needed to leave, I needed to get out of this town.
Avery helped me assemble the last of the boxes, getting them ready for moving the next day. She talked about an encounter she had with her friends and teacher at school, probably trying to distract herself from me leaving.
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"Archer, are you sure you've got it covered?"
I stopped chewing the pasta and gave my dad a look. "Dad, don't worry, I'll be completely fine."
My dad, still looking serious as ever, replied while gathering another bite of pasta. "You can tell me if you need help, I can score you a ton of job opportunities if you need it."
"Dad, I told you, I'll be fine, I can do this." I stated, for what may be the hundredth time.
My Dad had been double checking everything as soon as I sat down for dinner, asking if I needed help. If everything was dealt with and ready.
Although I really appreciated his sentiments, it could get pretty frustrating. It felt as if he didn't believe I could handle it on my own, and at this rate, I was starting to feel the same way.
"Archer, really, I can help you out, I could even get you a better apartme-"
I let my spoon clatter loudly onto my plate, Avery jumped and snapped out of her daze, Dad widened his brown eyes.
As politely as I could, I announced, "I'm gonna head out for a little bit, I'll be back soon."
I left the table and walked to the front door, feeling the the stares of my family on my back. I took extra care to make sure I didn't slam the door.
I didn't need to be rude, I knew my dad just wanted the best for me, but I was getting slightly discouraged about it.
