My eyebrows raise and I back away to let her peruse the paperwork. Getting to the sketch, I begin working on it, and after a couple minutes, I show it to her.
“Wow, I really like it,” she says, and I nod as I grab the clipboard from her, making sure everything is signed.
A small smile comes on my face as I glance down at the sketch again. I get to work prepping everything, including getting her situated in the chair. I place the stencil on her skin, and while it dries, I pack the tattoo machine and set up my workstation with color caps, green soap, and a brand-new outline needle. She sets her arm on the wide armrest. I look up at her. She nods, and I put the needle to her skin, ready to get to work, ready to distract myself from just about everything.
CHAPTER FOUR
BIANCA
Inever knew how true the expression “Get distracted enough and a lifetime will pass you by” was until one of the movers Josh hired reaches for a box I’m bringing down from my room upstairs. Smiling at him, he grabs it as others focus on moving our furniture, the place becoming emptier by the minute. At that, a guy makes his way out with an all-too-familiar photo album, and I stop in front of him.
“Can I see that, please?” He nods, and I grab it as he continues to carry everything else to the huge truck outside. I sit on the lone plastic-wrapped chair. The squeak rings out, drowning out Josh’s shouts at them to be more careful.
Flipping to the last page, I’m met with Dad’s freckled face, and I rub my thumb across each of the pictures. He’s smiling in every single one, and I wish I could remember him more vividly, but it’s been so long. Thumbing through, there’s his and Mom’s wedding day. He’s looking at her, and you can see the immediate love in their eyes. There’s a zoomed-in picture of her tired face and Dad’s happy one with a little bundle in his arms.
Holding the book, I go back upstairs, being met with a bare room, and my heart constricts at the scene. The memories almost jump out from the walls, and I imagine another person making what once was my safe space theirs.
My eyes well as Jamie and I already said goodbye today since she couldn’t be here on the actual day of the move. However, she did come by almost every day prior, helping me with the packing as well as keeping me company since Josh and Mom have been out of the house, jetting between here and LA.
He slapped a big for sale sign right in front of the house as soon as he could. The money that would come from either selling or renting would be a great investment for our future.His words, not mine.
Grabbing my backpack with all my essentials, I carry my old suitcase down the stairs. Mom and Josh are waiting for me at the front door. I look at the empty living room and an old memory overwhelms me:
“Grandma, what is it?”
She shrugged and laughed; my heart ached at how her and Dad’s laughs sounded so similar.
“Please?” I pouted, and she rolled her eyes as she put her hands on her hips.
“Okay, you can open one gift. Just don’t tell your mom.” I nodded happily as she looked at Mom in the kitchen. After Grandma sent me a subtle thumbs-up, I giggled and moved to the Christmas tree.
A shaky breath escapes me and I turn around, the memory vanishing as I walk closer to the front door. Getting out, I twist the key and check to make sure it’s locked. With one last deep breath, I walk away from a place that gave me such happy memories.
Once again.
I’ve got a headache bigger than I’ve ever had in my life. Josh’s favorite pilot has his day off today, which means we’ve been sitting here while Josh argues with management. Though, it was thefirst time I’ve ever seen Mom roll her eyes at him, so that was pretty funny. Unfortunately, due to the maximum occupancy of the private airline lounge being at cap, we were moved to the public one right before security and Olivia has been blowing up all of their phones until Josh let her come hang with us “one last time.”
She’s holding on to Josh like it’s the last time she’ll see him while Mom sits next to them, consoling Olivia. I can’t believe that today I leave Philly for good. This place became my home, and I don’t want to leave. All the people I met here—well, the person I met who became such a big part of my life—is going to be left behind, and I can’t bear it. I take a sip of my iced coffee and look up every time I hear something even close to my name or her voice. I hope that maybe Jamie will come, but with the way this place thoroughly vets the people allowed in, I sincerely doubt it.
Sighing at that, I look over at Mom and Josh at the desk talking to the airline employee once again, when they both cheer shortly after.
Olivia looks up from her phone as they make their way to us.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“Thankfully, we got sent his son, who is supposedly thesecond-bestpilot. So, I guess he’ll do,” Josh reluctantly says, and Mom cups his face, giggling. He smiles. “Just want the best for my family.” He leans over to kiss her, and I turn around to gag, while Olivia mirrors the expression.
“So, are we leaving soon?” I ask, and Mom wobbles her hand side to side in a so-so gesture. Making note of it, I turn on my music once more and close my eyes, drowning out life entirely.
As the songs begin fading into one another, I can subtly hear some hurrying footsteps, but I don’t bother opening my eyes, chalking it up to the other passengers.
A rush of cold air hits my ears as my headphones are carefully taken off, and my eyes shoot open. Blinking to regulate my surroundings, a blurry figure is waving a hand in front of my face. “We have to get to boarding. The pilot’s here,” Mom says, and my eyes widen, realizing more time than I’ve thought has gone by.Olivia’s nowhere to be seen, and Josh and Mom are making their way to the gate. My heart deflates when I realize that this is it.
My eyes well with tears and I face away from her, grabbing my cord from the charging port. I make my way to the entrance, but as I’m going, I suddenly hear someone yelling.
“Bianca!”
Spinning, I don’t see anyone calling me, and I laugh to myself, as I think I’ve officially gone insane. Shaking my head, I see Josh through the glass windows signaling me into the hallway. Making my way there, my steps stop when I clearly hear my name this time.
