Chihiro woke up that day with a clean conscience and a happy heart.

As she got herself out of bed, she looked to her toy dragon as she always did, and her heart sunk to her stomach. She remembered what she decided she would do today.

Don't think like that,she thought. This has to happen. It's a good thing. I don't belong here anymore.

How heartbroken would her parents be? They'd assume she hated them, for sure. Which was obviously wrong, she thought to herself. She loved her parents and she knew her parents loved her too. She just couldn't continue this constant cycle of loneliness and more loneliness anymore. She had to go home.

Chihiro just didn't want her parents to be upset. She'd be gone before they knew what had happened, of course, but the thought of her mom crying in her father's shoulder was almost too much to bear.

But surely, her parents would want her to be happy, right? They'll understand eventually. At least, that's what Chihiro hoped.

This thinking wasn't good for her. She knew she'd have to get out of there as soon as possible, or she'd chicken out.

Almost as if it were a sign, she looked in her closet and found her classic white-and-green striped shirt, and her pink shorts. Maybe it wasn't necessary, but she thought wearing those clothes might boost her initiative and morale.

Slipping the shirt and pants over her body, she checked her appearance in the mirror.

Wow, I really do look different than I did 6 years ago,she thought as the analyzed herself. Her shirt looked slightly tighter in her chest area, and her body gave her the look of a young woman, not a child. Her curves had finally started to show; her waist small, but still at a healthy weight.

Walking to her bathroom, she was about to put her hair up when a thought struck her; today was the day she was starting her life over in the Spirit World, and she wanted to do something to signify this drastic change. She had cut her hair by herself for years, since money was never in abundance at the Ogino household. Chihiro saw the scissors next to her sink.

Chihiro recalled how her hair had those choppy bangs 6 years ago. It looked cute; since her hair was almost always up in a hair tie. It gave her an innocent sort of look.

Hey, why not,she chuckled to herself. Portioning her hair so a large portion of it was in her face, she picked up her scissors and made the first cut. Chihiro gasped as a chunk fell to the floor.

This is really happening, isn't it?She thought in excitement. Her worry vanished momentarily.

Snip after snip, more hair began to fall to the floor; her bangs becoming more prominent. She cut at an upward angle at the ends of her bangs, giving them a softer, less harsh line. She left some long side-bangs to frame her face. Chihiro looked in the mirror with satisfaction at what she had done.

Reaching towards the floor, she picked up a chunk of fallen hair. If ever in the future she doubted her choice, she would remember what she did today. This hair was a promise to herself; a promise to live life with no regrets.

Tying her hair up in Zeniba's hair tie, she felt as though everything would be ok. It would be painful, leaving her parents, but she knew she was doing what would make her happy.

Sadly, that feeling of happiness left her the second she stepped downstairs; replaced by a feeling of dread and guilt.

Her mom stood there, humming in the kitchen. Her father was on his old leather chair, just as he was every morning; reading the paper. Chihiro saw how perfectly content they looked, living their simple and pleasant lives. She felt guilty, not being happy living that same simple life.

Remember the hair, Chihiro, remember the hair. She repeated to herself.

Mrs. Ogino caught sight of her daughter standing on the stairs.

"Good morning, sweetie!" her mother said as she beamed her always-warm smile at her daughter.

Mrs. Ogino's eyes widened when she saw her freshly-cut hair.

"My goodness, did you cut your hair this morning? It looks beautiful this way." She paused for a moment. "You've grown up so much, Chi."

"Thanks, mama." Chihiro said, giving her mom a hug.

Glancing at the chair her father was sitting in, her mother called out to him.

"Toru, come to the kitchen; look at your beautiful daughter!" she said with a slight chuckle.

Setting down the newspaper and walking to the kitchen, he stopped when he saw his daughter. He slowly walked over to his wife and stood beside her. With a sigh, he spoke.

"Azumi, I think our little girl is growing up too quickly for us to keep up with." They both chuckled.

Aaaand here comes the guilt.

"I know, isn't she gorgeous? I remember her being so small, and now look; she's a woman." Her mom said with a slightly sad tone.

Chihiro spoke up. This love fest was making her heart heavy, she wanted to change the subject.

"Thanks mom. And don't worry, dad, I've still got a bit of growing left in me." She said, trying to hide any hint of sadness she felt.

Her mom suddenly had a look on her face, as if she just remembered something.

"That reminds me, honey, can you run to the market and pick up some ingredients? I need them for tonight's stew."

This is my chance.

"Mm-hm. Write down a list, I'll head out in a few minutes."

Her mother smiled. "Thank you, dear."

Chihiro decided to go to her room until she left. She quickly wrote down a note, telling her parents not to worry, and that she would be back someday to visit. Chihiro kept the note as vague as possible, only saying that she was 'going somewhere she knew she had to be'. A few tears began to trickle down her cheeks, falling on her note. Signing her name, she set the paper on her pillow, where she knew her parents would find it eventually.

Just as she was about to leave her room for the last time, her toy dragon caught her eye. Instead of the sight of the dragon giving her anxiety, it gave her hope. No longer would she need to look at its disgusting shade of lime green. She'd soon see the beautiful ocean green mane herself.

Giving the dragon a smile, she closed the door to her room with a slight 'thud'. As she neared the bottom of the stairs, she heard her mother call from the kitchen.

"Oh, Chi, there you are! I've got the list for you." She said, handing Chihiro the small paper.

"Alright, I'll be back soon." Chihiro said, barely hiding the slight quiver in her voice.

Maybe it was strange, but she had to do one more thing before she left.

Her mother had already returned to the kitchen, but that didn't stop Chihiro. She walked up to her, and gave the biggest hug she had ever given. Mrs. Ogino reciprocated the hug, slightly puzzled at this sudden expression of affection from her daughter. Nevertheless, she didn't object. She missed having her sweet, loving little girl. Chihiro really had grown up.

Saying goodbye to her mom once more, Chihiro entered the living room. Her father had now switched to watching television. Standing in front of him, she gave him the same hug she had given her mother; except this one meant more to her. Chihiro had always been that iconic "daddy's little girl". After every one of their moves to a new city, she recalled crying many times in her father's shoulder, and having his strong arms protect her from any harm. In a way, her dad was her best friend until she met Haku. Hugging her father like this brought tears to her eyes, and she silently willed them to stay in her eyes so her father didn't see.

Mr. Ogino was even more puzzled than Chihiro's mother, but didn't object for the same reasons she hadn't.

"See you later, Chi," He said with a smile.

At this point her tears were really threatening to spill over.

Waving to both her mother and her father, she stepped out the door. Her tears were close to falling out, but Chihiro just wouldn't let them fall. She would not cry over something she knew she had to do.

Come on, Chihiro, get it together,she thought. Nobody said it was going to be easy.

With that, she began her journey to the tunnel that led to the Spirit World. Some tears made their appearance and began to fall, but Chihiro always put an end to it quickly.

It was somewhat funny; she wasn't really sure how to get there. But, as she continued onwards, it seemed as though something in her brain had finally clicked; she remembered every step of the way. It was as if her brain had a GPS set to 'home'.

She subconsciously reached her hand in her pocket. Feeling the hair she had picked up, she knew she was doing the right thing.

Her feet carried her down every road until she reached that red tunnel. She stood outside its entrance and felt the familiar breeze almost pull her in.

Chihiro's heart nearly skipped a beat as she thought of what her new life would be like, inside the Spirit World. Who would she see first? How many things have changed? Would they remember her?

Surely, her parents would approve of what she was doing, if they only knew of the happiness she felt in that very moment; mere feet away from beginning her new life.

Chihiro sighed, staring down the tunnel. She whispered three words to herself as she took her first step inside.

"I'm coming home."