ONE - Away From Home
“Best wishes, darling,” Isabella’s aunt said, giving her a warm hug. All her aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents had gathered at their house to celebrate the big move. Isabella wasn’t sure what to feel. She had lived in the Philippines all her life, and now she had to leave—because her parents wanted a better future for their family. She should’ve felt grateful, but instead, her heart felt heavy.
Isabella felt safest surrounded by her family and friends. Now, in less than twenty-four hours, she would be thousands of miles away from them all. Her brother didn’t seem as bothered, though. Miguel scrolled on his phone, barely glancing up to greet the guests or elders. He never cared much about big events, school, or… anything really. Everything was, as he liked to say, “not a big deal.”
“Aren’t you excited, princess?” her father asked, smiling but sensing her pain. “Oo… sobrang excited,” she replied, eyes downcast and forcing a small smile. (Yeah… super excited.)
That’s when her grandmother rolled forward in her wheelchair, a rectangular box resting gently on her lap. “For my one and only granddaughter,” she said softly. “Alagaan mo siya, sunshine. At huwag mo siyang idamay. She is very vengeful.” (Take care of her, sunshine. And don’t be mean to her. She is very vengeful.)
Lola’s tone made Isabella pause. Her grandmother had always been wise and kind, but this felt… different. “Salamat po, Lola,” Isabella said, taking the box carefully. (Thank you, Grandma.)
She turned the box over in her hands, feeling the faint hum of mystery inside. It was wrapped neatly, tied with a faded red ribbon that looked older than anything she owned. Isabella wondered what could possibly be inside—a keepsake? A lucky charm? Maybe just an old family trinket. But something about her grandmother’s warning sent a chill down her spine.
That night, sleep never came easily. Isabella tossed and turned, her mind buzzing with a mix of sadness, curiosity, and fear. It was a sleepless night for her.
By morning, they were at the airport—bleary-eyed, carrying heavy suitcases and heavier hearts. The plane roared to life, and Isabella pressed her face to the window, watching the islands of the Philippines shrink beneath her. The green land looked like scattered gems floating in the blue sea.
“Malaki itong magiging pagbabago para sa akin,” she murmured to herself. (This is going to be a big change for me.)
Her mind raced with thoughts of new schools, unfamiliar faces, and the challenge of fitting in when she barely spoke English. Miguel slept soundly beside her, earbuds in, while her parents discussed real estate prices somewhere across the aisle.
As the clouds swallowed her homeland below, Isabella clutched the small box Lola had given her. She still hadn’t opened it—but she could feel its weight like a secret pressing against her palm.
Something about leaving home, about carrying this mysterious gift so far away, felt… wrong.
As their brand new jeep rolled through the city, Isabella pressed her face against the window, eyes wide. Chicago was louder, brighter, and busier than anything she’d ever seen. Cars honked constantly, people rushed by speaking in accents she couldn’t quite place, and tall glass buildings reflected the cloudy sky. The air was crisp and cool—so different from the warm, sea-salted breeze back home in the Philippines. Everything here felt bigger, faster, and a little overwhelming.
But when they finally pulled up to their new house, her nerves eased. It was smaller than she imagined but cozy, with tall windows that let sunlight spill across the cream-colored walls. A little garden sat out front, its flowers swaying gently in the breeze. She could almost see herself reading in the window corner or setting up her desk by the light. There was a balcony in her room, which showed a view of the woods, which was beside their house.
She couldn't help but smile.
