Back Home

The drive back home always felt longer than it actually was. Though only a few hours had passed since we said goodbye at San José International Airport, I already felt as if I'd left behind an important part of myself. The car moved smoothly along the familiar streets, and I watched the scenery distractedly while thinking about everything that had happened that day. Olivia's dramatic farewell, the sincere conversation with Sack on the plane, my mom's warm welcome… It all felt so vivid, as if it were still happening right there.

That's when my phone buzzed beside me on the seat. I glanced at the screen and saw Olivia's name flashing. I couldn't help but smile. I knew she wouldn't be able to go long without trying to contact me.

"Already missing me?" I answered, automatically turning on the speaker so I could talk while looking out the window.

"Lindsay! I can't believe it's been HOURS since we last talked! How do you live like this? This is emotional torture!" Olivia's voice came through with her usual drama, as if we'd been separated for years instead of just a few hours.

I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop myself from laughing. That was Olivia—exaggerating even the smallest things.

"Olivia, it's been exactly three and a half hours since we said goodbye at the airport. I think you'll survive."

"THREE AND A HALF HOURS IS AN ETERNITY!" she exclaimed, completely ignoring my comment. "Besides, I need to know if you've made it home yet. Did your mom greet you with a giant sign and tears in her eyes? Because that would be epic."

Before I could respond, I heard a familiar voice from the front seat.

"Is that your friend Olivia?" Mom asked, turning slightly toward me with a curious smile.

"Yes, Mom, it's her," I replied, feeling my cheeks warm up slightly. I knew Olivia wouldn't let this opportunity for a grand entrance pass.

"Oh, what a delight! It's always good to have great friends," Mom said enthusiastically, clearly charmed by the idea of hearing about my friendships.

Olivia, on the other end of the line, cleared her throat audibly, capturing both our attentions.

"Excuse me, I believe someone just mentioned me. Allow me to introduce myself formally. Hi, Mrs.… Amelia, right? I'm Olivia, Lindsay's best friend. Nice to officially meet you, even if it's over the phone."

Mom burst out laughing, clearly entertained by Olivia's energy.

"Oh, Olivia! It's a pleasure to meet you, even like this. I've heard so much about you. From what Lindsay says, you're… unique."

"Unique is my middle name! Well, technically it's not, but it should be," Olivia responded with her characteristic flair. "But, Mrs. Amelia, let me assure you that I'm an excellent influence on your daughter. Without me, she'd probably be reading boring books all day."

"Hey! I'm right here, you know," I interjected, though it was useless trying to interrupt them. Mom and Olivia were already in their own world.

"Well, Olivia, thank you for taking such good care of my daughter. If you ever decide to visit us, you'll always be welcome in our home. Just make sure to let me know in advance so I can prepare something special," Mom said warmly, her tone melting any resistance.

"I will! And I promise to bring enough nice socks for everyone," Olivia replied with a giggle.

Mom looked at me with an amused expression, as if trying to figure out how someone could be so exuberant.

"I think I like your friend, Lindsay. She's… refreshing."

"Yes, that's one way to describe her," I murmured, though I knew I was smiling like an idiot.

After a few more minutes of conversation between Olivia and Mom (during which Olivia somehow managed to convince Mom to send her a picture of the sign she'd made to welcome me), I finally hung up, promising to call her soon.

When the call ended, I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes for a moment. It was amazing how Olivia had the ability to fill any space with her energy, even through a simple phone call. But at the same time, it made me realize how much I valued our connections. Olivia, with her drama and constant jokes, and Sack, with his reflective silence and unconditional support, had changed my life in ways I never imagined.

As the car continued toward home, I thought about what Mom had said about Olivia: "She's a good friend." And she was. They both were. They had been there for me during moments when I didn't even realize I needed them. They had helped me see who I truly was, beyond my family's expectations or the weight of my last name.

When we finally arrived at the mansion, the atmosphere was calm and familiar. Dad wasn't home yet; he was busy organizing the hospital to ensure everything ran smoothly without him during the next few days. I went up to my room and paused in front of the door, feeling a mix of nostalgia and gratitude. This place was still my refuge, but now it also reminded me of how much I'd grown.

As I entered, I noticed the photos on my nightstand were still the same: pictures of my family at various celebrations, like Christmas or birthdays. But something was missing. I pulled out my phone and searched for the latest photo we'd taken together—Sack, Olivia, and me—during one of our college adventures. It was a spontaneous image, full of genuine laughter and camaraderie. I'd printed the photo before leaving Stanford, knowing I wanted to keep it with me.

I placed the new photo next to the ones of my family, feeling as if it completed something in my room. Now, every time I walked in, I'd see not only the people who had always been by my side but also those who had come into my life to change it for the better.

I sat down on my bed and picked up my phone. Opening the group chat, I quickly typed:

"Thank you for being you. I miss you."

It hadn't been five minutes when my phone buzzed with a reply. It was Olivia, as expected. Attached to the message was a photo of her fat cat, Lord Whiskers, sprawled belly-up on her bed, taking up all the available space. The photo came with the following message:

"Lindsay, look at this. This is Lord Whiskers, my supposed 'reason to get up every morning.' I was gone for a few months at Stanford, and look at him now: sleeping like he owns the place. He didn't even leave me space in MY own bed. I think he thinks he's human. Or worse, he thinks I'm the pet."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help laughing. That was Olivia, always exaggerating even the smallest things. Before I could respond, Sack chimed in with his characteristic style:

"Olivia, your cat doesn't think you're the pet. He's just decided you're irrelevant. It's actually a promotion for you."

Olivia responded almost instantly:

"Irrelevant? Sack! How can you say that? I feed him, buy him expensive toys, and even give him back massages. And this is how he thanks me: by completely ignoring me. I'm starting to think he needs therapy… or maybe I need it for having him as a companion."

I chuckled quietly as I read the response. The dynamic between them was always entertaining, even in text messages. I decided to intervene before Olivia started planning therapy sessions for herself and her cat:

"Olivia, maybe he's just tired. I don't think he's trying to offend you. Although, looking at him there, it does seem like he's been enjoying your absence a bit too much."

Olivia replied immediately:

"Enjoying my absence? This is emotional betrayal! I'm going to start charging him rent for using my bed. Or better yet, I'll buy him a mini sofa to sleep on. That way, he'll learn who's in charge here."

Sack didn't take long to respond:

"If you buy him a sofa, make sure it's luxurious. Lord Whiskers doesn't seem like the type to settle for anything less than the best. Besides, he'll probably ignore you just the same, even if you give him a golden throne."

Olivia didn't miss the chance to defend herself:

"Oh, Sack, how little faith you have in my ability to discipline my cat. I'm sure I can train him to respect me. He just needs… motivation. Maybe I'll start with a reward system. Or a water spray. Whichever works first."

Sack responded with his usual dryness:

"If you use a water spray, make sure to record it. I want to see how he reacts when he realizes his life of luxury is over. He'll probably hate you more than he already does."

I decided to intervene before Olivia started planning a war against her own cat:

"Olivia, maybe he just needs time to adjust to your return. Give him a few days, and I'm sure he'll go back to adoring you. Although, honestly, that level of drama sounds more like you than him."

Olivia responded with a crying cat emoji and added:

"Lindsay, clearly you don't understand the gravity of this situation. This isn't drama; it's emotional survival. If Lord Whiskers decides to ignore me forever, what's the point of my life? I urgently need a Plan B."

The conversation kept flowing, light and fun, as always. Each message was a small reminder that, even though we were physically apart, we were still connected in ways that didn't need explanation.

Finally, after a few more minutes of jokes and memes sent by Olivia, I decided to disconnect for a while. I put my phone away and stared at the photo I had just placed on my nightstand. Sack, Olivia, and me, smiling as if nothing in the world could affect us.