Pen Everly
The summer after the college entrance exams, my parents promise to take me on a beach vacation.
I start packing my suitcase one month in advance, including a pair of swim trunks, sunscreen, my camera, and a detailed travel itinerary that I stay up late every night preparing.
The night before we leave, my younger brother, Oscar McCreery, suddenly announces that he wants to invite my childhood best friend, Celia Ruginis.
Dad glances at the airline tickets and frowns.
"We don't have enough rooms."
My chest tightens. The next second, Mom snatches my passport out of my hand.
"You can sit this one out, Nate. Your brother and Celia just made up. They need this."
My older sister, Michelle McCreery, picks up my suitcase and sets it down beside Oscar.
"Nate's already packed everything. You can just take this," she says to him.
I turn to Celia. She once told me that we'd go to see the ocean together after my college entrance exams. But now, she just reaches for the suitcase.
"Ozzy has always been terrified you'd steal everyone away. Just let him have his peace of mind this time."
Oscar's eyes redden as his voice chokes with emotion. "Nathan, I just really want one family trip."
A family trip. What a joke. Apparently, they're only a family without me around.
Departure alerts flood my phone screen. There are only three hours left until boarding.
I stand in the entryway, watching my suitcase disappear into the distance. That's when it hits me. For the past few years, I've been like excess baggage to them. They bring me along when I'm useful and leave me behind when I become inconvenient.
The ocean breeze never even reaches me, but somehow, I have no desire to see the sea anymore.