After days when all the hassle seemed to fade into the background, Ryu sat on her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. On the other end of the phone was Johnny, always supportive and always able to lighten the mood, but this time even he could not.
I shouldn't be this scared, she thought, but the idea of leaving them behind twisted her chest.
A sudden knock on the door startled her. She opened it to find her grandmother's kind eyes.
Her heartbeat slowed at the sight of her grandmother, yet a tiny knot of worry lingered, how would they react to her decision?
Without another word, she hugged her tightly, the tears flowing freely.
"I want to tell you both something," Ryu said between sobs.
"Okay, sweetheart. We need to talk," her grandmother replied softly, voice tired but steady.
Later, Ryu sat quietly across from her grandparents in their small, worn living room. Evening settled in, carrying the faint scent of old wood and tea, light filtering gently through the curtains, casting soft shadows on the walls.
Her grandmother looked up, concern knitting her brow. "Ryu, are you sure about this? Leaving us again?"
She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "I want to try boarding school. It is for me. I will be closer to the college I want to apply to, and it will give you both some peace and a chance to be in your own home, something you have not had in ages. You can visit sometimes without worrying about me."
Her grandmother opened her mouth, but the words caught in her throat. Ryu's stomach churned, had she made a mistake?
Before her grandmother could speak, her grandfather gently interjected.
He nodded slowly, eyes soft but tired. "And you will come back to see us during the holidays?"
"Yes," she said firmly.
"A few months later, after finishing my final year of school and collecting my results. Then I will apply to a residential college and specialized training programs, and take it from there." Ryu answered.
Her grandmother reached out, squeezing her hand. "We just want what is best for you, child. But after everything that has happened… how can we leave you alone now?"
"That is right," her grandfather added quietly. "I do not think this is the best time to be alone."
Ryu lowered her head, her fingers absently picked at her nails, anxiety twisting inside her.
She looked up again, meeting their worried eyes.
"I know it is hard. But I need this, not just for school but to find myself, to figure out what comes next.
Staying here feels like being trapped under a weight I couldn't lift. The memories hold me back every time. Going somewhere might finally give me room to breathe, to exist without ghosts crowding my every thought.
I need an outlet. "
Her grandmother's eyes softened, and she brushed a stray lock of hair from Ryu's face.
"We just want what is best and safe for you, always. But maybe you are right. Sometimes, letting go is the hardest way to show love. If this is what you want, we will support you."
Her grandfather rose slowly and went to a small wooden chest by the door. The hinges creaked as he opened it, revealing a carefully folded scarf inside. He lifted it gently, reverence in his movements.
"This scarf belonged to your mother. She wore it the day she first met your father and said it was her lucky charm."
Ryu's breath caught. She had heard stories, but holding this tangible piece made it real.
"We never planned to give it to you like this," her grandfather continued, "but after all that has happened, we want you to carry it. As protection, as a reminder that love, even from long ago, watches over you."
She reached out with trembling hands. The fabric was rough but warm. She held it close to her chest, feeling the weight of generations and hopes wrapped within.
She pressed the scarf to her cheek, remembering the stories her grandmother had told, how her mother had nervously worn it the day she first met her father, hoping for luck.
In her mind's eye, Ryu saw the crowded marketplace where her mother smiled shyly at a tall young man. The scarf fluttered in the breeze, a bright splash of colour against the grey morning. That day had changed everything.
Now, it was not just fabric. It was hope, protection, a silent promise stitched through generations.
"I will carry you both with me," she whispered, voice thick with emotion.
"I promise to come back, to make you proud."
Her grandmother nodded, a faint smile breaking through her worry. "That is all we want, child."
For a moment, the room held a quiet strength, fragile, fierce, and alive.
The silence was broken only by the soft rustle of clothes and the gentle clink of belongings being packed away. Ryu folded her books carefully, while across the room, her grandparents packed their small suitcase.
Her grandmother paused, holding a faded photo of the three of them taken years ago during a holiday visit when Ryu was just a child. A bittersweet smile touched her lips.
"We have not been home in so long," she said softly, folding the photo and slipping it into her bag.
Her grandfather nodded, pulling out a worn leather journal. "This place has been our second home, but it is time to return."
Ryu wrapped the scarf around her neck, its familiar rough weave grounding her. "I will come back stronger. And I will visit. I promise."
Her grandmother approached, placing a gentle hand on her cheek.
"You carry your mother's luck with you now. Never forget that."
Her grandfather handed her a small silver locket, its star engraving faintly gleaming. "For when the night feels too dark."
She swallowed the lump in her throat. "I will not forget."
With the scarf around her neck and locket clasped in her hand, she felt a small, steady flame of courage spark within her, a tether to home as she stepped forward.
They zipped up their bags, shared a quiet embrace, and stepped out together one last time. As the car pulled away, Ryu watched the house fade into the distance, a fragile fortress of memories and love she carried deep inside.
Ryu's stomach fluttered with a mix of excitement and fear, the world beyond the gates felt both inviting and daunting.
She couldn't wait to discover what awaited her.....