22 Jan 2024, 15:50
Beginning of A New Adventure
The platform was jam-packed with people, and twice as loud. Everywhere Mairead turned a sea of people, trunks and owls stretched out, except for the brick wall she was trying to step away from, to let others through, and the bright red train on her left. Her mum was still on the other side having said her goodbye already, and Mairead was already feeling homesick. Her dad dropped his hand onto her shoulder and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Remember to breathe, Mayday.” He chuckled into her ear. Mairead gulped a lungful of air before returning the hug. “It’s still not too late to back out if you want.” He offered, leaning back and kneeling to meet her eyes.
“I. I still want to go, it’s just…” She trailed off, not sure how to communicate the ball of nerves and mixed emotions that twisted her insides.
“We’ll write every day if you want, and you know your mum and Nan are going to send you as many care packages as Athena can carry.” Mairead, despite herself, giggled a bit at the thought of the family owl looking at a mountain of packages and shaking her head.
A little while later, Mairead was sitting in an empty compartment with her trunk overhead and practicing her breathing techniques. The train whistle was the only warning she had before everything lurched and she nearly went flying out of her seat. She pressed her face against the window, waving to her dad until the platform was out of sight.
“Remember to breathe, Mayday.” He chuckled into her ear. Mairead gulped a lungful of air before returning the hug. “It’s still not too late to back out if you want.” He offered, leaning back and kneeling to meet her eyes.
“I. I still want to go, it’s just…” She trailed off, not sure how to communicate the ball of nerves and mixed emotions that twisted her insides.
“We’ll write every day if you want, and you know your mum and Nan are going to send you as many care packages as Athena can carry.” Mairead, despite herself, giggled a bit at the thought of the family owl looking at a mountain of packages and shaking her head.
A little while later, Mairead was sitting in an empty compartment with her trunk overhead and practicing her breathing techniques. The train whistle was the only warning she had before everything lurched and she nearly went flying out of her seat. She pressed her face against the window, waving to her dad until the platform was out of sight.