20:A HEARTFELT FAREWELL

It was a new day, and the day Ivy's parents were leaving for their vacation had finally arrived. The morning sun streamed through the kitchen windows, casting a warm glow over the room. Ivy was in the kitchen, assisting her mother as she cooked breakfast. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling sausages filled the air.

"Can you pass me the tomatoes, Ivy?" her mother, Elena, asked with a smile.

"Sure, Mom," Ivy replied, handing over the bowl of chopped tomatoes. She watched as her mother added them to the skillet, the familiar routine bringing a sense of normalcy to the morning.

Just then, her father, David, entered the kitchen. "Good morning, my lovely ladies," he greeted them, planting a kiss on Ivy's forehead and another on Elena's cheek.

"Morning, Dad," Ivy said, smiling up at him.

"Morning, dear," Elena replied, her eyes twinkling.

Liam soon joined them, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Morning, everyone," he mumbled, taking a seat at the table.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Ivy teased, ruffling his hair as he chuckled. Soon her parents went upstairs to pack up their bags and suitcases.

As her parents finished packing, they came downstairs with their suitcases,Ivy and Liam assisted them in carrying some as they all walked to the door, and Ivy and Liam followed their parents out to the car. They watched as their parents loaded their suitcases into the trunk. The caretaker, Mr. Johnson, was there to help with the luggage.

"Have a great trip, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson," Mr. Johnson said, tipping his hat.

"Thank you, Mr. Johnson," David replied. "We'll see you in a week. Ivy,Liam and her parents went in to have breakfast and to pack the rest of the few things left.

They all sat down to have breakfast together. Ivy had a bowl of yogurt with granola and fresh fruit, while her parents and Liam enjoyed a hearty breakfast of sausages, scrambled eggs, and toast. The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter and light-hearted banter.

"So, are you both excited about your trip?" Ivy asked, looking at her parents.

"Very much," David replied. "But we want to make sure you and Liam are okay while we're gone."

Elena nodded. "Ivy, remember to take your meds and check your health status regularly. And please, take good care of Liam. He'll be in your care."

"I will, Mom. Don't worry," Ivy assured them, though a part of her felt a pang of anxiety at the responsibility.

After breakfast, Ivy helped clear the table while her parents completed the last touches for their journey. She couldn't help but think about how the next week would go without them. This was the first time she would be alone without being in their care. But she reminded herself that she was 19 now, all grown up. It wasn't such a big deal, right?

Still, the unease from the previous weeks lingered. She couldn't quite put her finger on what was bothering her. Was it the fear of being alone? The responsibility of taking care of Liam? Or something else entirely? She didn't know, and that uncertainty gnawed at her.

Ivy and Liam also helped their parents pack up the last of their things. Ivy made sure to double-check that her parents had everything they needed for their trip. Once everything was packed, they all gathered in the living room for one last family hug.Elena hugged Ivy tightly. "We'll miss you, sweetheart. Take care of yourself and Liam."

"I will, Mom. Have a great trip," Ivy said, hugging her back.

David gave her a bear hug. "We'll be back before you know it. Stay strong, Ivy."

"I will, Dad. Have fun," Ivy replied, trying to sound cheerful.

They turned to Liam, giving him hugs and ruffling his hair. "Be good, buddy," David said. "Listen to your sister."

"I will, Dad," Liam promised.

Elena added, "Ivy, don't forget to water the garden and take good care of Toby. I know you will."

"Of course, Mom. Toby and the garden are in good hands," Ivy assured her.

"We'll miss you both," Elena said, her voice filled with emotion.

"We'll miss you too, Mom," Ivy replied, hugging her tightly.

David gave Ivy and Liam one last hug. "Take care of each other, okay?"

"We will, Dad," Ivy promised.

Elena turned to Ivy and Liam one last time. "Remember, if you need anything, Mr. Johnson is just a call away."

"We'll be fine, Mom," Ivy said, giving her a reassuring smile.

With that, their parents were finally ready to go. Ivy and Liam followed them out to the car, waving as they drove away. As the car disappeared down the street,Ivy took a deep breath. She had a week ahead of her, and she was determined to make the best of it. She turned to Liam, who was standing beside her. "Ready for an adventure, little brother?"Liam grinned. "You bet!"Ivy felt a mix of emotions. She was proud to be trusted with the responsibility, but the unease remained.

Ivy and Liam headed back into the house, and Ivy couldn't help but think about the week ahead. This was the first time she would be responsible for everything, including taking care of Liam and Toby, their energetic Shih Tzu puppy. She knew she was capable, but the weight of the responsibility felt heavy.

She thought about her fears, which she herself couldn't fully understand. Was it the fear of something going wrong? The fear of not being able to handle everything on her own? Or perhaps it was just the fear of the unknown. Whatever it was, Ivy knew she had to face it head-on.

As the day went on, Ivy tried to focus on her tasks. She watered the garden, making sure each plant got enough water. She played with Toby, who seemed to sense her unease and stayed close by her side. She also made sure Liam was settled with his homework and activities.