Molly sipped from her favorite coffee mug as she watched the sun rise through the front window of the living room. She hadn't gotten more than 2 hours of sleep the night before, caught between excitement and nervousness for the journey ahead. She was excited because she would be escaping Hohman and the small single story house that had become her own personal Hell over the years, if only for a little while. The nervousness was because she would be driving her old, beat up Saturn more than 2,000 miles to Charming, California. She wasn't sure she could depend on the Silver hunk of metal to carry herself and precious cargo all the way there. It also didn't help that her mother had given her a guilt trip every time she mentioned her mini-vacation.

The sound of her dad's keychain jangling against his belt as he walked down the hall startled her from her thoughts. She took a deep breath, anticipating a snide comment.

"Can't you just leave her with your mom for the week?" The "her" he was referring to was Penelope, her 4-year old daughter and precious cargo that would be coming along for the trip.

"No." She replied, annoyed with his stupid questions as usual. "She works and besides, I WANT her to come. I can't be without Penny for that long." She walked past him and down the hall to Penelope's bedroom.

She was sound asleep, snuggled against her Minnie Mouse pillow. Molly tiptoed to crouch down beside the plastic princess bed and studied her delicate features. She couldn't believe how fast she had grown. It felt like just yesterday she had held Penny in her arms while she slept, her sweet face cradled in the crook of her neck.

Her phone chimed and vibrated in the back pocket of her jeans. She removed it and glanced at the screen. It was a simple one-worded text from her best friend, Mina. Here!

KK. Just got to get P out of bed and packed into the car. Be right out!, she texted in reply.

She lifted Penelope out of bed and moved her head to rest on her shoulder. After retrieving a soft fleece blanket and wrapping it snug around her body, she exited the room and walked to the front door.

"You're leaving now?" Her dad asked as they walked past the kitchen.

"Yep. Mina's here." She answered without stopping. Her hand was on the door handle when he yelled from behind her.

"Wait; let me say goodbye before you guys leave. I'm gonna miss her." He came and gave the still sleeping child a kiss on the forehead. "Be careful driving."

"I will," was all Molly said before heading out the front door. Penny stirred and woke when she felt the cool morning air against her skin. She raised her head and looked around in confusion.

"Are we going bye-bye?" She asked groggily.

"Yes. Remember we are going on a trip with Auntie Mina?" She gestured to Mina's maroon Honda that was idling at the curb.

"Oh!" She exclaimed in her sweet, high-pitched voice. Molly smiled at her daughter, feeling all the worry dissipate from her. This was going to be a great week for them.

After she had secured Penny in her booster seat and double-checked to make sure all their bags were there, she started the car and backed out of the drive-way.

With her best friend leading the way, they began the long drive that would take them to Mina's new hometown. As they passed through the streets of Hohman, she had the strange sensation that she too, might be leaving for good.