February 2005...
Savannah lay on her bed staring at her ceiling. She woke up a while ago but didn't want to get up. Today was the day she'd be leaving her home town for good and maybe never coming back. How on earth did a whole week pass by so suddenly.
The day before, Savannah stood in front of the school building. Everyone she knew, everything she learnt was from this place, suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder, she turned around and saw Debbie.
" What are you doing?" Debbie asked confused.
" Nothing, just looking at this place before I leave. I'm really going to miss all the fun we had here". Savannah said with her eyes becoming watery.
" I'd miss you to Savannah. I'd miss you so much". Debbie said as she abruptly hugged Savannah. The two of them stood there for some time until Savannah pulled away.
"Is there some way I can convince my mom to let me stay". Savannah said as a tear drop slowly rolled down her cheeks.
" No Savannah, you deserve to go there. And anyways, the distance between here and South Carolina is not that far, I can come to visit you sometime". Debbie said and not long after, Amanda's car pulled out on the driveway.
" Bye. Hope we'd meet again". Savannah said before making her way to the car.
...
This new reality that was planned ahead of her made her feel as though she was starting 12 years of hard work all over again.
After taking a deep breath, she got up from bed and made her way to the bathroom. After a few minutes, she got out of the bathroom wearing a floral dress. She walked to her standing mirror and stared intensely at her reflection. 'This dress, this hair, this person. I'm really going to miss you'. Savannah thought before making her way to her dressing mirror.
For a while, Savannah didn't know what to do and just stared at the mirror. She didn't know whether to dress differently or not. After thinking for a while, she decided to let her hair down and put a little lip gloss, 'New life, new look'. Savannah thought to herself before making her way to her side drawer. She sat on her bed before taking her phone out from the drawer. She scrolled through her phone for a while and then decided to video call Debbie. The phone rang for a bit before Debbie answered it.
"Oh, hi Savannah, what's up". Debbie said almost immediately after picking the call.
"Nothing much, we're about to leave so I just wanted to say, 'hi', so, how do I look?" Savannah said before she stood up and kept her phone on the bedside lamp and took a few steps back, reviling the full dress.
" Wow! The dress looks gorgeous. You should wear dresses more". Debbie said as Savannah spun around in her dress.
" I would, but I'm not really that into dresses". Savannah said after making her way back to the bed. Just then, Amanda shouted, "Savannah! Come downstairs, we're about to leave?"
"My mom's calling me, I better go, I'll call you later". Savannah said before she ended the call. She quickly rushed to her bathroom, packed all her toiletries and put them in her school bag before rushing back to the room.
After packing all her things, Savannah took her phone and switched off the lights before making her way downstairs.
" Hurry up, we don't have time", Amanda said before taking the bag from Savannah, "Adam, take the boxes to the car, Savannah, help him with it. I'll check if we forget anything". Amanda said before she went upstairs.
"Okay mom, I'll wear my shoes first". Savannah said before taking her flats from the shoe rack and wearing them. She then took her school bag and her luggage before making her way to the car.
"What are you doing?" Adam asked Savannah once he saw her pull out her phone.
"Using my phone". Savannah stated blankly with a shrug.
"Well", Adam said as he took a small step away from the car, " Mom asked you, to help me with this, and that means you shouldn't just stand here and do nothing".
Savannah took a deep breath before saying, " Ok fine", Savannah said before putting her phone back in her bags side pocket, "What do you want me to do?"
"All you need to do is get the remaining bags and bring them here". Adam said with a fake smile on his face. Savannah sighed before going back into the house.
...
Meanwhile...
Amanda sat on her bed staring at the two pictures from her trunk recollecting some old memories. Everything about that room, that house, it all reminded her of Daniel and what they shared. And not just that, it also reminded her of when they moved into the house, when Adam was born and when she had to accept the sad truth of Daniel's death.
Suddenly, a knock was heard and Savannah walked into the room.
" What is it". Amanda said softly, looking away from Savannah, trying to hide her tears.
"We're done packing the bags". Savannah said still standing by the door .
"Okay, I'll be down soon". Amanda said while Savannah went downstairs. Amanda wiped away her tears before putting the photos back in the trunk.
Amanda pushed the trunk back under her bed before turning off the lights and making her way downstairs. As soon as Amanda reached the last step on the staircase, everything was already set. Everything in the living room and dining room were already packed and the house was almost shallow.
Amanda made her way to the front door and was greeted by Savannah and Adam standing right in front of the car. Amanda brought out a key from her purse and used it to lock the front door before getting into the car.
...
Amanda drove the car for a few hours before driving into a gas station .
"Okay, so after we're done filling the tank, we'll go to a nearby cafe or restaurant and eat there since we didn't have breakfast". Amanda said as she turned back to look at the kids before coming down from the car.
After a while, Amanda came back into the car.
" But mom, were are we going to?" Savannah asked while Amanda started the car.
"We're going to Probar".
...
After a few minutes of driving, Amanda stopped the car at a cute little restaurant with a huge sign hung on top inscribed with 'Probar' and flowers beautifully designed all over the place which made it look like a little garden.
" We're here". Amanda said before she stepped out of the car.
Savannah and Adam followed after.
" I've already decided on what I'm eating, so what would you guys have?" Amanda asked the two of them after they stepped out of the car.
"I'm not sure, it depends on their menu".
"And you". Amanda asked Adam who was staring at his phone.
Adam put his phone in his pocket before saying, "Ugh, It depends on their menu. Let's go in". Adam said as the three of them walked into the restaurant.
As the three of them walked into the restaurant, they stared at it in awe. The place looked way more beautiful in the inside than in the outside. The room was painted orange and cream with a touch of white. The place was decorated with different paintings on the wall and it also had a huge tv screen Infront of the cashier.
" Wow, this place looks lovely". Savannah said once they entered the restaurant.
"There's a free table over there, come on, let's go".Amanda said as the three of them went to the table closest to the entrance. After a few minutes, a waitress walked up to them and asked, "What would you like to have?"
Amanda stared at the menu for a while before saying, "I'd like to have an omelette with toast".
"And what about the two of you?" The waitress asked as she turned to look at them.
"I'd have your pancakes and scrambled eggs?"
"And I'd have fries and a sausage".
" Thank you, we'd be back with your order". The waitress said before she left.
After a while, the waitress walked up to them holding a plate of pancakes and scrambled eggs and another of french fries and a sausage. She carefully placed them on the table before leaving and coming back with another plate.
" Here you go, sorry for the delay and hope you enjoy your meal". The waitress said before leaving.
"Ummm, the food here is so good", Amanda said after she took a bite, " Adam, how is it", Amanda said as she looked up to see him, "Adam?" Amanda asked Adam who was still on his phone.
"Oh, um, it tastes great ". Adam said before going back to using his phone.
Amanda sighed before saying, " Give me your phone".
"But mom..."
"Give, me, your, phone. And that means you too Savannah ".
"But I wasn't even using my phone".
"Well, I don't want any of you to be distracted while eating. I'll give them back to you in the car".
...
After a while, the waitress who served them walked up to them before saying, "Here is your bill",she said as she placed the bill on the table, " Are you done with your meal?"
"I'm done with my food". Amanda said as the waitress collected her plate.
"What about you?" The waitress asked as she turned to look at Adam and Savannah.
"Oh, I'm done with it".
"I'm also done with my food". Savannah said as the waitress collected her plate. She was about to leave but Amanda stopped her.
"Where do we pay for our food?" Amanda asked.
"Oh, the cashier is right over there". The waitress said as she pointed at a guy standing in front of the cash register.
"Oh, thanks". Amanda said before standing up from her seat, causing Adam and Savannah to also stand up from their seats. She picked up the bill and stared at it for a while before saying,"The two of you can wait in the car, I'll be back". Amanda made her way to the cash register as Adam and Savannah went out of the restaurant.
After a while, Amanda also walked out of the restaurant.
"Get in the car, we have a long journey ahead of us". Amanda said as she opened the car and got inside.
"But mom, what about our phones, you said you'll give them to us in the car". Savannah said once she got into the car.
Amanda sighed before saying, " Fine, take them", she said as she handed the phones over to Savannah," I wonder why I even bought those things". Amanda whispered to herself before starting the car.
During the ride, Savannah stared outside the car window watching the city slowly move past her. Something inside her sparked, she felt as though from now henceforth, thing's would be different, and not just for her but her family as well. She looked at her brother, who was already fast asleep and then turned to look at her mom, who was so deeply focused on driving. She lay back in the seat and looked up at the ceiling before slowly closing her eyes and letting her mind fall into slumber.
...
"Savannah? Savannah ". Someone said as they gently tapped her shoulder.
"Is she seriously asleep?" Another person said in the backround. Slowly, Savannah opened her eyes to be greeted with her brother standing near the half opened car door and her mother standing right behind him.
"Finally you're awake, now come on, let's go inside". Adam said before following his mom to the front door.
Still half asleep, Savannah got out of the car and closed the door before making her way to the front door.
"Take these". Adam said as he handed her bags to her before following Amanda up the stairs.
Savannah sighed before throwing her backpack over her shoulder and making her way up the stairs.
After climbing the stairs for a while, Amanda finally stopped at a door with the number '324' written on it. Amanda brought out a key from her pocket and used it to open the door before pushing it open.
The room was almost fully covered with dust there wasn't anything in the livingroom. The place was a little dark and the floors were dirty.
Amanda pulled her bag into the room and Adam and Savannah followed. The three of them settled in the livingroom after Adam brought in all the bags.
"So is this were we're going to stay?" Adam asked.
"Yeah, I've made some arrangements and by tomorrow, we'll be able to get some furniture in here", Amanda said as she looked around the room, " After that, we'll go out to eat".
"Yeah so, were are we gonna sleep?" Adam asked.
"This is a two bedroom apartment, you'll have a room while Savannah and I will share a room".
" What! Why does he get to have a room for himself?"
"Well, cause he's the only boy. That's unless you want to share a room with him". Amanda said as she looked at the two of them.
"You know what don't worry, I'll share a room with you". Savannah said as she hugged Amanda.
"Okay fine, now let's get cleaning this place". Amanda said as the three of them went to the kitchen to get cleaning items...