Disclaimer: I don't own anything from The Maze Runner Universe, everything belongs to James Dashner except this story.


Thomas wasn't sure if he was ready to leave the nest, actually he was afraid of leaving everything behind, his family, his friends, his home, his life. But now there was no coming back he was on a plane, thinking of what awaits in Albuquerque, in his new life. Aunt Ava was great, she loved Thomas, and he loved her. He also had two cousins Aris and Teresa, both were funny, charismatic, and loved Thomas in their own way.

As he watched the clouds flashbacks of what used to be his life ran through his mind, images of his mother, his little bro Chuck, his twin sister Brenda, his house, of his friends, and of places where he loved to hang out. These memories triggered the feelings of loneliness and sadness that remembered Thomas why he was doing this, why he had to leave everything, to start a new life with his aunt, to enter a whole new world.


Today was his last day in Denver, today was the day that changed everything, the last day of his life. He was sure that he was going to miss his school, his home, his family, his friends and his city, but there was no way he could escape this. His mother alone couldn't afford three children, so she asked Aunt Ava to take care of Thomas until she could find a way. On the bright side, he would be living with his cousins Aris and Teresa, who were step brothers, there was no way it could go wrong, or at least that was what Thomas thought.

"Hey Tom, you know I'm going to miss you, right?" Said Brenda, since Thomas didn't answer her she decided to continue "I know it's hard to leave everything behind, but you know mom wouldn't have asked you to do this if it wasn't necessary, after all you've always been her favorite Tom."

"You gotta be kidding me sis, she hates me, she has always been mean to me, she's always with you and Chuck, she never felt like a mother." Thomas said bitterly, while tears started falling from his eyes.

"Geez Tom, you know that's not true, you always pushed her away for cheating in father, she made her life mission to make you forgive for taking away your childhood, for taking away your innocence, for being all her mistakes." After saying she hugged me, it was her way for saying that everything will be okay and that she'll be there for Thomas when he needs her the most.

"Thank you Brenda, I don't know what I would do without you, my twin sister." Thomas said, and started hugging her back.

"Probably you would either be dead or under psychiatric guard, Tom." Brenda answered and laughed.

After that, she left cause she had a date to prepare for, classic Brenda, she always got the hot ones much to Thomas demise. All she needed to do was wave her hair, wink, and use clothing that is more like a second skin, then all boys and girls would be drooling over her, but who wouldn't she's beautiful in the inside and in the outside, what else could someone ask for?

By the time Chuck returned home, Thomas had almost ended packing, he decided that he'll just bring just the essential clothes since Aris could lend him some and Aunt Ava promised that once he arrived they will go to the shopping mall and buy Thomas some new ones, he also decided to take some pictures of his family and his friends to remind him of who he used to be.

"Tom" A voice behind him said " Why are you packing? Where are you going? Are you planning on running away? Why are you leaving me behind?"

"Chuck" Thomas said, hopping that would make the little kid shut up so he could explain to his little brother everything "I am moving to Albuquerque with Aunt Ava, they offered me a great scholarship in the "Scorch High School", so mom and I decided that it was a great opportunity for me and that I should take, I'm really sorry for leaving and for not telling you before Chuck but I was afraid of how it may affect you."

"You know, it kind of hurts that you didn't told me before, but I can't be mad at you, you did it cause you care, just promise you will call when you can." Chuck said and began hugging Thomas, truth to be told Chuck was quite scared of losing Thomas but there was nothing he could do but support his brother.

"I promise Chuck I'll do it, believe me when I say it was a difficult choice for me, but opportunities like this happen just once." Thomas said as he began crying twice in the same day and something told him it wasn't going to be the last time today.

"I love you Thomas, remember that when you feel alone." Said Chuck with tears falling from his eyes, he knew that his brother needed him to be strong but he couldn't, he was going to miss Thomas a lot he was like a father, always supportive, always there, he knew that everything was going to change and he wasn't ready.

"I love you more Chuck, I know it will be hard for both of us, but promise you will be strong, promise me that you'll never give up, that you'll be fine, and that you won't cry when you remember that I'm gone." Said Thomas while trying stop crying, he needed to be strong for Chuck, he couldn't let him see him like this.

"Thomas, I promise you that I'll be as strong as I can, I'll be as brave as you, as smart as Brenda, as forgiving as mother, but I can't promise the last part, you're my brother, my role model, my hero Thomas." Chuck said with the brightest smile he could, knowing it's exactly what Thomas needed the most.

"I guess I couldn't ask for anything more, Chuck." Thomas said with a light chuckle.

At the same moment a tall woman, with raven hair and deep blue eyes walked in, a woman who was known as Thomas mother, who wasn't ready to let Thomas go but she had no other option she was almost bankrupt, she couldn't continue living like this, and thanks God, that Ava offered to help her by taking care of Thomas.

"Meatball, could you leave I think Thomas and I need to talk alone." She said as emotionless as possible, she couldn't let them see through her mask at least not now.

"Yes Mom" Answered Chuck while leaving Thomas room.

"Honey, I want you to know that I'm sorry that this is happening to you, but It needed to be done, for the sake of your siblings. " She said while trying to keep the tears from betraying her.

"First don't honey me, and second stop acting like you're emotionless we both know the truth of what happened years ago, we both know that you suffer depression, that you are afraid of your emotions, especially afraid of loving again." Thomas said these words with venom in his voice.

"You are right, losing your father broke me, and losing you is affecting me moe, cause I love you more than what you think." She said while tears began running down her cheeks.

"What are you expecting me to say, that I love? Because then I would be lying, you've hurt me so much, you ruined my childhood." Thomas said coldly as he began crying.

"I know I've hurt you, that why I wanted to ask you if you could forgive me for everything I've done wrong, for every time I've hurt you, please Thomas, I've tried everything and yet you would push me away, we both know that this may be the last time we see each other, so please forgive me Thomas." She said as anxiety began attacking her, making her want to go and loose conscience with a little help of the alcohol but she wasn't going to make the same mistake thrice, was she?

"I think I can forgive you mother, but I don't know if can forget about everything you've done" Thomas said between sobs "Though I would like to know, why out of the three did you chose me?"

"Because you've always been the strong one, you've always been the one I loved the most and by letting you go away I'm not just paying... the ultimate prize for all my mistakes, I'm also making sure that you'll be able to find your... happy ending, that's what you truly deserve sunshine." She said with her voice breaking.

The only thing Thomas could think of was hugging her, and crying till the time to leave came, though he didn't what to let his mom go cause for the first in forever he felt loved, he felt happy, he felt complete.


He was there, and he was nervous, his new life had just started and he wasn't sure what he wanted to do with this freedom, he didn't know if he wanted to break free of everything that remembered him of his past, or if he wanted to be attached to his roots, he knew he couldn't let Chuck down, that he promised that he would call him, but that will just hurt both of them, he needed to let go his tether to what used to be his life, he needed to start from zero, but could he really be that emotionless, he wasn't sure, but it was what his mother would have wanted, she explicitly asked him to do whatever was necessary to find his happy ending, even if it meant breaking Chuck's heart. He knew it would hurt but he needed to forget, he knew that he may even regret it but now there was no coming back, he took his suitcase and threw it at the nearest trash can he could find.

With a deep sigh he took one last step and exited the Airport, letting go his past, and forgetting who he used to be. The first thing Thomas saw was Aunt Ava, Teresa and Aris running to hug him , he also noticed that it was hotter than Denver, but it wasn't something he couldn't live with.

"Thomas, you are finally here." Said Aunt Ava with a big grin while engulfing him in a big group hug.

"Tom, I missed you so much cuz, I want you to know that we'll help as much as you let us." Said Teresa, as result of this she began crying and hugged me harder.

"Yeah, we really care about you, I know I may not show all but I love you cousin" Said Aris with a big smile.

"Thank you, for accepting me in your family, for opening the doors of your house to me..." Said Thomas but before he could finish he was interrupted by Aunt Ava.

"Our house Thomas, remember that." Declared Ava.

"Aunt Ava, I wondering if I could work at one of your Starbucks?" Requested Thomas.

"Yes Thomas dear, but why?" Asked Ava with a sweat tone.

"Because I don't want to abuse of your hospitality, auntie" Answered Thomas.

"Thomas I'm doing this because I want, you've always been like a son to me anyways" Said Aunt Ava, a little confused.

"And you are the closest thing I ever had to a mother, but still I want to work, I want to feel useful" Explained Thomas.

"Well if that's what you want, you can start working on Monday, I believe there's one near the "SHS", Right Teresa?" Said Aunt Ava.

"Yeah there's were I go for my daily amount of caffeine" Answered Teresa.

"Excellent, now we shall go to the shopping mall, since you brought no clothes with you" And with Aunt Ava and Teresa were gone leaving Thomas with Aris.

"So Thomas, how does Chuck feels about all of this?" Asked Aris clearly worried.

"Who's Chuck?" Asked Thomas without any clear emotion in his voice.