It was clear what path she should take.
She squared her shoulders and shifted her backpack. Her luggage had already been checked in, not that it was a lot, but it was all that she had. And the file too. Taking a deep breath, she looked down at the file in her hand. She opened it and took out the tickets for her flight. But as she did, she couldn't help but look at it one more time… her real ticket out of her colony. She figured its white edges, not sure whether the feeling she had about it was awe, happiness, or apprehension. Right now, she was so messed up she couldn't tell… /I'll go with a mixture of all of them/ she decided offhandedly, as she shoved the form back into her knapsack.
After pausing one more moment, she decided to move. /I'm a fool/ she thought, /Do I really expect anyone to come? By now I should know better then that/ But still her heart hesitated, listening to that small voice… "It's hopeless," she answered out loud, before walking to the gate. Pass it and there was no turning back.
"Boarding pass please," the uniform-clad man at the door intoned. She reached out, and placing it into his hands. He gave it a cursory glance, before returning it to her. "You may enter. Hope you have a nice trip," she nodded, forcing a thin smile despite her heavy heart. She had almost walked through the door when familiar shouts made her turn around. "Hey wait! Don't go yet!" she left her bag at the side of the entrance and ran towards the old couple. Silently, she hugged the old woman, too overwhelmed to say anything. Tension left her shoulders, and tears threatened in her eyes. She broke the hug.
"I didn't think anyone would come," she addressed the overalled couple. The old man beamed at her. "You didn't think that old man Sam would pull through? What's with you girl? Of course we would have come!" "Not to mention that we wanted to be there when you started your next phrase in life," the old woman's eyes watered, "Hopefully, it will be much better, away from this place."
She couldn't help it. Despite the fact that most of her life in the colony had been hell, she knew she would miss it. Expected, but she could not let it hold sway. "It will be better. I will make sure of it." She answered, determined. "But before I go, I would like to thank you. For everything. For saving me from my goddamn relatives. For saving me from him. For taking care of me. And most of all, for teaching me the skills that will now shape my life. Thank you so much." She blushed a little, unused to saying such things and looked to the ground. The elderly couple didn't say anything; there was no need to.
"Boarding Gate V270. Repeat, boarding gate V270." The sound system blared, breaking the moment. She sighed, "I guess I'd better go now." They nodded. But before she could turn away, Sam cleared his throat. "We have something for you. Maybe you could use it over there. If not, just keep it in remembrance." Without further ado, he held out a toolkit. Her toolkit. She looked at it before taking it from him. But instead of walking off, she placed it on the ground. "Let's hug you guys!" she yelled, grinning, and flung herself at them. They all hugged, laughing merrily all the way.
But soon it was time to go. "I'll miss you guys," she said, as she picked up the toolkit and her bag. "Write then!" Sam yelled, waving as she passed through the doors.
"Make us proud," the old woman whispered, tears glistening in her eyes as she watched the lone figure fade into the distance.
