Chapter 1: What are you looking for?

"Circe, the moving van is going to be here any minute. What are you doing up there?!" Mama called from the kitchen.

Her voice tends to amplify when she's stressed. Though I don't understand why she is this time. I'm the one who's moving out and starting a brand new life in another part of town. I guess its just those motherly instincts kicking in again.

I rummage through the boxes some more. I don't know what exactly I'm looking for. These were boxes of old stuff that I won't be taking to my new place. I can't even begin to understand why I started looking through them but I guess I'll stop when I'm satisfied.

"Circe?!" she barged through the door and entered my now empty ex-bedroom. The force of the intrusion made me jump back and fall on my butt.

"Dear God mama!" I gasped, clutching my chest, "A knock would have gotten my attention just fine."

"Sure it would have" she rolled her eyes. She moved across the room and plopped herself beside me. "What are you even looking for? These are just your old magazines and primary school things."

"I actually don't know" I responded, "Something... amazing I guess"

She rolled her eyes again.

"You keep doing that and your eyes will get stuck in the back of your head." I smirked.

"Are you using my own words against me?! Kids these days! You get one apartment and a fancy new job and you think you're grown!" she said in mock annoyance.

"I am grown!" I laughed, "I don't know if you got the news but, I pay my own bills now."

"Yeah, yeah whatever. Let's just look for... whatever it is you're looking for so we can leave. The sooner you're gone, the quicker I can start working on my gym." mama laughed, pulling another box towards her.

"That actually hurt." I smiled, "I taught you well."

With that, we fell into a comfortable silence and tackled the boxes. Of all the people I'd be doing this with, I'm glad its mama. Her thing was she let us do whatever we wanted unless it showed that it could actually harm us. Us being my brother, Adonis and I. Its probably why we have such a solid relationship.

As we continued, the door swung open once again.

Dear God how did I live like this?

"You were supposed to call her downstairs, not join her in her madness." Adonis said to mama, leaning against the doorframe. He and I looked scarily alike. The major differences we had was that he had decided to dye his hair white while I decided to keep mine in braids, he was way more muscular than me and I was darker than him.

"I thought I should indulge one last time." she smiled back at him. I simply flipped him off. I didn't have the same patience that our mama did.

"Aye, watch yourself. Just because you're leaving, it doesn't mean you can act a fool in my house!" she scolded, "And I don't expect you to do the same to the people around you're out there. Do I make myself clear?!"

Just as I was about to apologise and calm her down, I spotted a familiar envelope covered in a series of colourful stamps. A series of memories came rushing back, flooding my mind and filling me with joy. I still can't believe its here after all these years. I reached for it. The minute my fingers made contact with the faded paper, I knew it was what I was looking for.

"This is it." I grinned.

"I'm sorry. I think you owe your brother something." mama glared.

"But mama-" I wanted to protest but I caught myself as she stood up and her glare intensified. I always tell my friends that they shouldn't let my mom's age and tiny stature fool them. The woman is dangerous and has yet to lose in a fight, physical or otherwise. I should probably heed my own words.

"Alright. I'm sorry for flipping you off Adonis." I pouted. I wanted to add "even though you totally deserved it" at the end of my apology but I value my life... and I already paid for my apartment.

"Good. Now let's get this show on the road." She huffed.

Adonis moved out of the way as she walked past and headed towards the car where baba was waiting. He followed her but not before turning around and flipping me off too. If I were to describe him in one word it would be trash. I love him, but that's all he will ever be in my eyes. I huffed as he disappeared from view. I'd get him back soon enough.

Before I made my way to the car, I looked round. The four walls of this room were where some of my biggest moments in life happened. My first sleepover, my first day of of primary, secondary, and high school, my first day of university and when I graduated. Its hard to believe that I won't come back here at the end of everyday to flop onto my bed and smoosh my face into my pillows.

I took it all in. Because the next time I see this room, every trace of my exictence would be erased and it would be turned into a gym or whatever mama convinces baba to make her. I smiled, held the envelope tighter and walked out of the room, closing the door and that chapter of my life.