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It has been so long since she last smelled the thick forest air. She had almost forgotten how liberating it felt to be herself. After the death of someone she cared for, she had moved way; hoping that it would help being away from her past. But she couldn't escape it any longer. She couldn't risk revealing to others what they truly were.

" Mom?" Maddie asked, her head resting on Mason's shoulder.

"Yes, Maddison?" Mom looked at her through the rear view mirror than back at the road.

"Are we there yet?"

" No, we are not. I know you want to get off the road, but we're almost there." Mom sighed.

This wasn't the first time Maddie asked "Are we there yet?". She's upset, and I understood why. For the past nineteen years of my life, sixteen in her case; we've lived in Atlanta, Georgia. Mom was a psychologist, and earned more than enough to maintain our little family. Maddie wasn't causing drama at school for once and Mason, her older twin brother was his usual self. Quite, composed, smart, and very mature for his age.

It was a Saturday night, when mom called a family meeting. Long-story short, she told us that we were moving back to her old hometown to be closer to our grandparents; whom we haven't seen since the twins were two. Upon hearing that we were moving, Maddie became mad and refused to believe that we were moving away. She tried to persuade mom to let her stay with a friend, but she was obviously told no. Next thing we knew we were picked up by our grandparents at the European Airport.

"Maddie you won't have to wait long. Soon we'll get there, and you'll make new friends. You'll love it in our town." Maddie sighed dramatically and replied with a yes grandma, before turning more into Mason's side.

"Raelah how are you feeling about the move? I know Mason doesn't really mind, but how are you feeling?" I smiled at my granddad, returning his smile. But before I could answer, mom already did.

"Oh, you don't have to worry about her dad, she adapts really well to everything around her-"

I went back to reading as my mother kept on talking about me. Don't get me wrong, I find it sweet that she enjoys bragging about her kids, but the book I had in my grasp was amazing. It has a fierce female lead who tries to deny the connection she feels between her and her admirer. The female lead knows that something wasn't making sense, the way she felt the moment she met her admirer, up till now. But when he takes her out, she could not deny the truth any longer. Just as I was getting to the end of their date, I heard my name being called.

"Huh? " I looked up to see my brother looking at me through the car window. When did he get out?

He points behind him and I realized we arrived, and everyone was already standing outside the car. I got out and stood next to my mom after putting my book away.

"It's been too long since I've last been here. It still feels like paradise." Mom spoke as she looked around, tears threatening to fall.

"And nothing has changed, your house is still there. The Knights' family helped us maintain it in hopes that you would return for the family tradition. "

For a moment, I saw mom glare at grandma, then smiled as she directed her gaze back to the busy community in front us. There were multiple houses, stores, shops, mini markets and a couple of schools. But what stood out the most was a house a little farther, well, a mansion to be precise. After unloading all our belongs, we settled in and unpack. The day was going great so far, and I headed back to my room to finish reading.

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