"Mom I'll be fine. You don't have to worry." Eric says with his best 'it's fine smile' making sure to show his pearly whites. " You should just go to the college near here. You wouldn't have to spend as much money. You could stay here with us." His mother says with tears slowly welling up in her eyes, already red from the tears shed earlier that morning. "Son, I know that you want to be near them, her especially, but you can get a fine education here." his father said trying his best to hold back his tears. he places his hand on his son's shoulder. "I know that dad but, I don't want to leave them. We have known each other since we were 5 years old and it's not all about her, you know?" He says while trying to fake a cool facade like she wasn't the most important thing to him even though she really was that important to him.
She was all he could think about but he could never tell her how he felt. "Guys, I'll be fine." He says while spreading his arms out wide to give his parents a huge hug. "We know..." they said simultaneously with tears streaming down their faces.
Slowly pulling away before the tears that he has been holding back for days start to stream down his face. "We love you so much and we will come and visit you in a few days once your father's meetings are over." His mother said with a stern but loving look on her face.
As they continued to talk and reminisced about when Eric was little, a van pulls into their driveway. while getting out of the can a voice shouted, "You need help with your bags?" Ray nonchalantly walks up to Eric, arms spread wide gesturing that he wanted a hug. "Yeah that would be a big help, thanks dude." After packing up all his things with Ray's help, he was ready to go. As if on cue Ray shouted from his van, "you ready man?" After taking a deep breath he shouted back, "I think so."
As they started to pull their cars out of the driveway and onto the main drag, he knew he was ready. they were starting a new and exciting adventure. Not knowing what was in store for them.