Chapter 3

By the end of August, there was less than a week until Bria started at Graymont.

The new rental was already set up, with every last household item moved in. That evening at dinner, Dad made an announcement with barely contained excitement.

"Bria, I've decided. Before school starts, we're all going down to the coast. I’ve already booked a five-star hotel and the flights. We leave tomorrow afternoon!"

Bria squealed and threw her arms around his neck.

"Yes! Dad, you're the best! I want to hit the shops and get that new perfume everyone at school has. I need it!"

Mom was beaming. She spooned another piece of roast chicken onto Bria's plate.

"Think of it as a back-to-school gift. Graymont's going to be a lot of pressure. A few days at the beach to unwind beforehand is exactly what she needs."

I sat beside them, quietly working through my plate.

When they had more or less finished planning, Mom turned to look at me as though she had just noticed I was also sitting at the table.

"Paige, after we leave tomorrow, make sure you lock all the doors and windows. And turn the gas off at the valve when you're not using the stove, you hear me?"

She paused, apparently satisfied with the arrangement, and added, "There are a few boxes of frozen dinners in the freezer. Just heat those up.

"We'll be gone for five days. Stay home and study. Your SATs are next year, so stop spacing out all the time. And remember to water the pothos every three days. Don't let it die."

A year ago, it might have stung, but now, there was nothing left inside me to hurt.

"Okay."

The next afternoon, Bria put on a sundress and stood in front of the full-length mirror, turning this way and that to admire herself.

I went to my room and dragged a dusty old suitcase out from under the bed. I had gotten it as an honor-roll prize back in middle school, and the wheels barely spun anymore.

I opened my closet and took out everything that belonged to me, piece by piece.

I tucked my acceptance letter, my ID, and the $1,500 I had saved over the past couple of years in birthday and holiday money into the innermost zipper pocket of my backpack.

I had already applied for a student loan online to cover tuition. The cash would be enough for a bus ticket and the first few weeks of living expenses.

When I finished packing, I looked at what I had.

One old suitcase and one backpack. That was the sum total of 18 years of living in this household.

"Paige! Take the trash out every day! Don't let this place stink up before we get back!"

Mom was at the front door with her suitcase, barking orders over her shoulder.

"Got it." I stood in my doorway and watched them calmly.

Dad was already downstairs, honking the horn.

Bria brushed past me on her way out and smiled. "Study hard while we're gone, okay? Try to at least get into a decent state school next year. I'll bring you back some saltwater taffy."

I looked at her perfect makeup and felt the faintest pull at the corner of my mouth.

"Sure. Have fun."

The front door shut behind them with a heavy thud, and the apartment went completely still.

I turned around and walked back to the living room.

I took my copy of the front door key and placed it in the dead center of the coffee table, right where I had set my acceptance letter that day.

Then, I slung my backpack over my shoulder, grabbed the handle of that old suitcase, and walked out the door I had lived behind for 18 years.