Chapter 1: A departure Neither of them Truly chose
Ethan lingered in the quiet stillness of his room, his gaze fixed on the hollow interior of his wardrobe.
Moments ago, it had been filled with pieces of his life-folded memories, familiar comforts, fragments of who he was.
Now, it stood barren, stripped of warmth, echoing the unsettling reality he was trying not to accept.
For a while, he simply stood there, unmoving, as though time itself had paused to let him absorb the weight of it all.
A voice drifted in from beyond the door, gently breaking the fragile silence.
"Ethan, are you done packing?" Lisa called. The sound of his mother's voice pulled him back. He inhaled deeply, steadying himself before responding. "Yeah, Mom... I just need to get my teddy-"
His eyes scanned the room slowly, deliberately, as though searching for more than just an object. Then he spotted it, resting quietly on the edge of his bed.
He walked over, picked it up with care, and held it for a brief second longer than necessary. "Yeah... I've got it. I'll be outside shortly."
"Hurry up, Bliss. We need to get to the train station."
There was urgency in her tone-subtle, but undeniable. A few minutes later, Ethan emerged, dragging his luggage behind him.
Each step felt heavier than the last, as though the weight he carried wasn't just physical. He stopped a short distance from Lisa, studying her expression before speaking.
"I'm here, Mom..." he said softly, then hesitated. His grip on the handle tightened. "But... I don't feel good about this trip." He swallowed, searching for the right words.
"Why are we even leaving from Guangdong Province... all the way to Heilongjiang Province?" His voice dropped, almost as if he didn't want the truth to fully escape.
"I'm going to miss my friends... Camila and Shawn."
Lisa turned to him, her composure faltering for just a moment. Her eyes shimmered, betraying emotions she was trying desperately to suppress. She looked away briefly before responding.
"My Bliss... can we not dwell on this right now?" Her voice was gentle, yet laced with quiet strain. "I told you already-I got promoted and my company transferred me, and this... this is an opportunity for us to start over. A new environment, a new beginning. You'll come to like it... I promise."
Ethan's expression didn't change. If anything, it grew more uncertain.
"But Mom..." he pressed, his voice softer now, more fragile. "You don't look happy. And I don't feel happy either. So... can't we just stay?"
The question lingered in the air, heavy and unanswered.
Lisa's composure cracked. She quickly lifted her hand, brushing away the tears that had begun to form, as though erasing them could also erase the truth behind them. When she spoke again, her tone was steadier-but only just.
"Bliss... I've already explained. It's not that simple." She exhaled, her voice dipping slightly. "Please... don't make this harder for me." There was no anger in her words-only exhaustion.
Ethan lowered his gaze. The resistance within him slowly unraveled, replaced by quiet resignation. "Alright..." he murmured, the word slipping out reluctantly, carrying the weight of everything he wished he could change.
For a brief moment, neither of them moved. Lisa took a few seconds to compose herself, drawing in a steady breath before reaching for her luggage. When she finally spoke again, her voice had regained a sense of firmness.
"Let's go."
She turned and began walking toward the waiting taxi, her pace measured but unwavering. Ethan followed closely behind, his footsteps subdued, almost hesitant, as though each step distanced him further from the life he knew.
Yhey placed their luggage into the trunk in silence-first Lisa, then Ethan. The soft thud of it closing felt strangely final.
Inside the car, the atmosphere grew still.
The driver started the engine, and within seconds, the vehicle began to move.
Outside, the familiar surroundings of their neighborhood slowly drifted past the window-homes, streets, corners filled with memories that now felt just out of reach.
Ethan leaned slightly toward the window, his reflection faintly visible against the passing scenery. His lips parted as he spoke, barely above a whisper.
"I didn't even get to say a proper goodbye..."
Lisa turned to him, her expression softening once more. She hesitated briefly before placing a gentle, reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"If they're truly your friends," she said quietly, "they'll understand. One day, when you explain everything to them... they will."
Ethan didn't respond immediately. He simply nodded, slowly, absorbing her words. The heaviness in his chest eased just a little-not gone, but quieter.
As the taxi carried them farther away, the city behind them gradually faded into the distance. Neither of them spoke again, yet the silence between them was no longer empty-it was filled with unspoken thoughts, shared sorrow, and a fragile hope for what lay ahead.
