Finally Home

On a full moon in the middle of fall, Sora kneeled in front of her dresser and packed the last of her clothes into a duffel bag.

Early that morning, after sharing a slice of chocolate cake to celebrate her brother’s 7th and her 19th birthday, she found a peculiar letter addressed to her.

A letter? On her birthday? That’s highly unusual.

She hadn’t received a letter for her birthday since the first year of middle school, before they moved far away, before little Ren was born, and before her parents shifted her to online schooling so she could take care of him on the weekdays and work on the weekends to “finally be a contributing member of this family.” Their words not hers.

The envelope had that little clear cellophane window that showed her name and address printed on the letter inside. It looked severe, like an electricity bill.

Ms. Sora Kiyomizu

435 NE EAGLEPOINT AVE

APT 17

The return address was eerily familiar.

Before she could overthink too much, Sora grabbed the letter opener from her desk drawer and swiftly sliced open the envelope.

It’s contents sent her reeling. Breathless, she ran towards the kitchen and tapped Ren on his small shoulder. He turned his head and met her eyes. Sora’s hands trembled as she signed, We’re getting out of here today.

The rest of the day was a blur of excitement and nervousness, as Sora and Ren danced around their parent’s apartment and cleaned it for the last time.

It was an understatement to say that Sora had been waiting for this.

Last night, her mother slapped her so hard it left her ear ringing and yet the only feeling it evoked was nostalgia. Not anger, not resentment, not even distrust. It just felt so familiar. Routine.

It was much better than the night before that, when Sora got locked out on the balcony all night, resigned to crying silently at her brother’s frequent whimpering in their parent’s room.

The day before that, her father had come home drunk and angry. He grabbed Sora by her neck and threw her against his bed where she stayed til morning.

Sora has been waiting for years—investing in a used car, hiding nonperishable foods underneath stacks of printer paper and old schoolwork, and talking for hours with Ren about what they would do once they got out.

She can finally get the fuck out of this house with her brother. Finally be far from the hands and mouths of parents that have never known how to take care of anything but their own egos.

Finally sign freely all day, everyday to her brother, finally stop painstakingly tracking her parents’ schedules to make sure they aren’t coming home when her and Ren leave their room.

Finally take a breath. Breathe. Be somewhere she can finally breathe.

After zipping up her duffel bag, shrugging on her favorite hoodie, and grasping her brothers hands in hers, she reads the letter one last time.

Dear Ms. Kiyomizu,

My name is Owl Wu and I was appointed as the executor of the Last Will and Testament of your grandmother Chika Arai.

She asked that we send you this letter on your 18th birthday, and every birthday thereafter until we receive a response.

In summation, you are the sole beneficiary of her estate that has been passed down from your family for generations. Please come at your earliest convenience. There is a fully furnished home waiting for you here.

I look forward to hearing from you. Happy birthday.

Owl Wu.

Sora and Ren skip to the apartment elevators, arms stuffed with all of their necessities. After arriving in the garage, Sora pops open the trunk with a click and they load their life into her car.

Ren giggles and squirms in his seat, and looks up at Sora, eyes shining. She smiles down at him and signs, you ready?

Ren’s tongue sticks throught his missing front teeth as he squeezes his eyes shut and smiles as wide as he can.

Finally.

We’re finally going to be home.

...

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