It’s been a while since I've visited my family back in Utah since I started college. I thought university life would be a great way to keep some sane-able distance away from them. But I soon realized how much I missed them and how much I need to get away from all of the stress and crap ton of homework.
‘Turn left and you will be at your destination’ my GPS yells at me.
I drove seven hours, and I know they still have my room. I'm going to sleep great tonight.
I slowly turned left, and I see it.
My childhood!
The lights are on, and as I look upon my childhood home, I think back to how big the home felt but looking at it now... It's small, looking into more details. I notice two square windows in front and of the hone with a yellowish roof with the body being a dark brown wood.
I laugh as I continue to stare at the home. The house literally looks like a cabin that they took out of the woods and placed in a neighborhood by accident.
Parking my car in their driveway. I climb out of the car, I’m all giggly. They will be soooo surprised.
I get up to the front door, trying to keep a straight face.
I knock on the door
Seconds pass… they are going to flip. I laugh
The door opens, and dad looks up at me.
“Tada!” I yell with a big grin
“Oh… um… I didn’t think Girl Scouts still sell after 7..” dad coughs “sorry… we don’t want any. Thank you”
“Dad! Are you serious right now! I drove seven hours to see y’all” I let out.
Mom comes out from the kitchen “dear, what's going on?”
“Mom! Dad is making dumb jokes.” I say, taking a step in.
“Move dad, let me in…”
“You need to leave. I don’t know who you are but you need to go before I call the cops.” Mom glares at me
“ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! I drove seven hours and y’all aren’t happy. I took time off, I promise I’m not skipping.” I say almost in tears “mom let me in I’m tried”
“I don’t know who you are but I’ve only given birth to one child. Do not call me mom!” Mom says firmly
“Okay, thanks for that clarification I guess, but seriously stop being weird,” I say, as a lump forms in my throat
“Mom, Dad, are you guys coming to eat?” a voice calls from the kitchen, it sounds familiar
“We’ll be there in a minute” mom yells towards the kitchen “Fred shut the door, I'm calling the police”
Dad shuts the door with me still standing there in shock. Whose voice was that? It sounded hella familiar
I curse under my breath, realizing that sounded exactly like my voice.
I race to my car, I don’t know what’s happening but I need to find Carter. Maybe he knows what’s going on.
Carter’s my childhood friend and closes with my parents. If anyone knows what’s going on he should.
Backing out of the driveway. I glance back up at the house one more time….
A dark shadowy figure appears in front of one of the windows. I squirt to find that someone is looking at ME from the living room window, I can’t make it out who it is unless I turn my headlights off but I’m too afraid to see who or what they are.
Chills go down my spine telling me to never come back come back alone. Something just doesn’t feel right.
My palms start slipping from the steering wheel. I can't think straight, what do I do? I’m too exhausted.
As if by instinct I pull up onto Carter’s driveway.
“What if he also doesn’t know me?” I turn the car off, too scared to get out of the car.
Minutes pass... Or maybe hours, I can't tell what is what anymore. But the night continues to get colder.
I’m scared and hungry. Tears fall down my face as I curl my knees up to my chest.
“I just wanted to see mom and dad,”
