Home Again Ch.1

Is this really happening? I thought to myself as I watched the caskets of my mom and stepdad be lowered into the ground. I seemed to be asking myself that a lot lately. When the cops knocked on the front door to tell me that my parents had been hit by an 18-wheeler; and when I had to make the funeral arrangements. I asked myself "Is this really happening?" when I had to pack up an entire house by myself because I was now forced to go with my dad. I had fought that tooth and nail; I was 18 for Christ sake and could take care of myself. But the state thought that "at such an emotional time", I would need the so called "support" of my father.

Letting out a sigh I shook my thoughts from my head and watched as the first bit of dirt hit the lids of the coffins with a dull thud. I continued to stand there long after the last of the mourners had left and stood there still even after the graves had finished being covered and stood in the silence. A car horn startled me and I looked up to find the source of the intrusive noise. My dad and stepmom sat in their rental car which they had acquired after coming to Austin from Maryland. Throwing a thousand insults at them in my head I slowly made my way up the small hill, opened the door to the back seat and slide inside.

"So? How was the service?" my stepmother asked in this disgustingly cheerful tone. My stepmother had loathed my mother and vice versa. It was a mutual hatred. I wouldn't be surprised in my stepmother was delighted that my mom was dead.

"It was fine. The weather was nice." Being in Texas we only really had two choices of weather: hot and hotter.

"Yes, an absolutely beautiful day for a funeral." was my stepmother's reply. Where in the hell does she get the audacity to say that?

My dad cleared his throat breaking the tension, "Evelyn, we have a few things that we need to discuss with you." He began as he drove towards my house.

"We have decided that it would be best if you were to go and live in the winter cabin up in Washington."

"What? Dad what about school? I have college—"he interrupted me.

"You'll be turning 19 in a few weeks, and besides I really couldn't afford to pay for your tuition in the first place even with getting the judge to allow me to stop paying child support. Look, Evelyn, this is for the best. You get to have your independence and work, and you're more than welcome to save up and pay for your own college. And in light of your recent disrespect towards me and your stepmother, this way no one will be butting heads so to speak. This way everyone gets what they want." He said smiling at the end. "Now, since we're already in Austin and the house is packed up and you have your mom's car, it would be most sensible to just leave from here. I've already made arrangements with a moving company and everything should arrive the day after you do…."

I just stared at my father as he continued to ramble on about how I was to just drive straight to washtington without them and how "it was really for the best." Is this really happening? I thought. They were sending me into exile; there was really no other way to put it.

"Recent disrespect"? You call standing up for myself disrespect. I yelled at him in my head.

"Evelyn, are you listening?" at my nod he continued, " So here's the key to the cabin and directions and also the phone number of the moving company. I'll be wiring you a monthly allowance to cover grocery expenses and such, and feel free to make the cabin your new home. " he gave me and awkward side hug which I didn't return, "Drive safe, send me a text when you get there."

"Oh and Evelyn dear"my stepmom called, "in order to make this as painless as possible it would be best if you only called because there was something wrong with the house." She said with a bland smile. I didn't miss the veiled threat, "I want you out of my life so you better not contact your father." It wasn't like she really had anything to worry about at this point, pissed didn't even begin to describe what I was feeling towards my dad. I watched as dad got back in the car and they drove off before I went inside. Opening the door it was like walking into a tomb it was so quite. That quite was shattered just a little as my dogs bounded up to greet me. Blu, a grey lab-mix and Mia, a miniature rat terrier.

Everything really was all packed up and ready to go, but instead of going to Maryland like I thought I would now be going to Washington. Glancing at the time it was only 11. The funeral had been early. Going to my room which only had my suitcase and back pack in it I changed out of the black dress I was wearing and into shorts and a t-shirt of one of my favorite bands, Black Veil Brides. Throwing my dress on top of the rest of the things in my suit case I zipped it shut.

I walked around the house one last time my dogs following me around sniffing at my heels. We hadn't been living here long. My mom and stepdad had finally gotten married after being together for 8 years cause I was going off to college. The house was already on the market to be sold, it was kind of bitter sweet leaving, I hadn't wanted to move here in the first place but now I didn't want to leave it for a place that would be even worse in my opinion.

Sighing, I gathered my things and went to what used to be my mom's car but was now mine. It was a 2000 Toyota Camry, nothing special at all but really durable and that was all I really cared about. I put my suit case and backpack in the trunk and opened the back doors so the dogs could climb in.

After pulling out of the driveway I spared one more glance at the house before driving off and heading towards Washington.

Was this really happening?