Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep! 

What? Is this a dream? 6:00 am already?!

“Annabell! Hurry up.” My mom’s annoyed voice told me that I was probably  supposed to have been already up at 5:30 or something. I stumbled out of bed realizing that my soreness was enough to make this a bad day for me. 

Then there was the move, also bad. God why did you do this to me? Do you even care? I trusted you and then this? These were all familiar thoughts, thoughts that just keep reappearing in my head like angry beasts. 

I walked downstairs to see my parents sitting on the couch, talking. 

“Annabelle, honey, we’ve made the decision to put you in karate instead of gymnastics. You know, it’s cheaper, and we’ve already found a gym for Easton in Nevada. The nearest gymnastics gym is a 40 minute drive away…and it is $100 more expensive per month. We’re sorry, but we simply can’t afford it.” 

Karate? How can this be happening? What?! 

“Also, we’ve decided to leave tomorrow since we are almost finished packing and your dad’s new job needs him sooner than expected.”

“Tomorrow?! And you didn’t even ask me! Plus, why would I do karate?” 

“It’s that or nothing, at least until our financial situation improves,” Dad’s eyes pleaded with me to understand. 

I was silently fuming. 

“We’re sorry, but it’s what has to happen. Go pack the rest of your things. I’ll be up to help in a bit,” Mom added. 

Sorry? The rest of my things, my life in one or two suitcases? How can I?

***

“I think this is it,” I mumbled. “All that’s left is my purse and tomorrow’s outfit.” 

Tomorrow. It chases me like an angry beast never defeated, never giving up, but always persistent. The same tomorrow that will never come, for it will soon be today, but will never be tomorrow. Why? Never seeing my friends again? Tomorrow? Why God?  

Easton came running at full speed into my room. 

“Annabelle!!! You are going to do karate with me! It’s going to be so fun! We’re leaving tomorrow too!” 

“Fun,” I snorted. “For you! Try having a grumpy sister in your amazing karate class.”

“Fine, but I know it’s going to be fun,” Easton retorted

“Okay then, if this is going to be so great then why don’t you just go to bed so you can wake up early for this ‘amazing’ day.”

***

“Beep! Beep!” Easton yelled, trying to replicate my alarm. I sat up, realizing it was tomorrow, but really today. Throwing on my clothes, I decided to take a walk for the last time here.

Last. Time. Here. 

To be continued!!