After dinner, the three of them settled into the living room, her father insisting on switching on the TV. "You've been on every channel lately," he chuckled. "But tonight, we're watching something as a family." Claire grinned, settling into the plush, familiar cushions, feeling more at ease than she had in months.
Her mother found an old sitcom they used to watch together, the one Claire had loved as a teenager. As the familiar theme song played, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. She couldn't help but laugh as the same old jokes filled the room, each punchline reminding her of evenings spent exactly like this, dreaming of Hollywood while sharing simple moments with her family.
They laughed together, but as she glanced at her parents, she noticed how the years had changed them. Her mother's hair was streaked with more silver, and her father's once-strong shoulders seemed slightly stooped. She hadn't realized just how much time she'd missed while chasing her dreams across the world.
After a few episodes, they called it a night. Her parents kissed her goodnight, her mother lingering a moment, brushing her hair back the way she used to when Claire was a child. Claire hugged her tightly, trying to hold onto the moment.
Then, she made her way upstairs, feeling the creak of each step beneath her feet. As she pushed open the door to her old room, she felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Her room was just as she had left it, the soft lavender walls, the small desk covered with old journals and photos, her bed still adorned with the quilt her mother had made.
She wandered over to her desk, picking up an old photo. It was from her high school graduation—a picture of her and her best friend, laughing with their arms around each other. They had been inseparable back then, her friend cheering her on as she left for Hollywood. They had promised to stay in touch, but somehow, life had pulled them apart.
Claire set the photo down and sat on the edge of her bed, running her hand along the quilt. Every inch of this room held a piece of her past—her dreams, her worries, her innocent hopes. It was here that she had rehearsed her lines in front of a small mirror, hoping to one day make it big. And it was here that she had whispered her secrets into the night, dreaming of a life that seemed impossibly far away.
But now, sitting here, Claire felt the weight of everything she had gained and everything she had lost. She lay back on the bed, letting her gaze settle on the glow-in-the-dark stars she'd stuck to her ceiling as a teenager. They seemed so small now, but they reminded her of the nights she had spent lying here, staring at them, promising herself that one day, she would reach for real stars.
With a sigh, Claire closed her eyes, letting the memories wash over her. For the first time in years, she felt like that small-town girl again—just a girl with big dreams, a heart full of hope, and a home that would always be waiting for her, no matter how far she went.