The next two days roll by like nothing at all. It's bittersweet for me. For one, I know that this may answer all my questions…But I don't know what comes after that.
After school Wednesday I come into the house and my mom is standing at the door waiting.
Great. What did I do now?
"Honey, you've been so quiet lately. We're worried about you."
"Didn't we just have this talk the other day?" I say impatiently, trying to edge my way toward the stairs.
"Em." My mother says tenderly. "I love you. I'm worried. Please." She really does look afraid.
I breathe deeply. I need to talk to her. But I can't. I'm meeting Sher at the subway station in fifteen minutes. I take my mother in my arms and hug her.
"I love you too, Mom, I really do," I say, "But right now. I can't talk to you. I have to go somewhere, and it's really important to me."
She looks hurt. "More important than the woman who brought you into this world?"
I pause.
"It's about the world you brought me into." I say. "I can't stay here anymore. I have to go. I love you mom." I say. I run up the stairs. I feel tears burning. I don't know if I'll ever see her again. I mean, sometimes, she was really great. But I can't think about that now. I have to leave. Now.
I grab my bag, throw on my other jacket, and slip out of my school shoes and into my walking ones for in town. I take a carefully folded letter out of my drawer and seal it into an already stamped and addressed envelope. I put it carefully into my pocket and then, I hear my mother, walking up the stairs. I crawl out the window, and slide down the shingles to the damp cold ground. The sun shines bright and a breeze makes me pull my jacket closer to me, and sling my pack further up on my shoulder. I see Sherin sitting on the bench next to the subway staircase looking nervous. I sit down beside her and kiss her gently.
"I'm scared Emmy." She says, looking into my eyes.
"I know," I murmur softly, "Me too."
We take each others hands and walk down into the subway. I buy us both tickets and we ride in silence. She seems really really scared. I hold her close, whispering to her. That I love her.
The train screeches to a halt at our stop after some time. I stand up and take her hand as we walk out and up into the glowing sunset.
We're here. This is it. This is the night. I walk up to a mailbox on the corner and drop the letter in. I sigh, and then squeeze Sher's hand.
