Finding Home: 2 - Trip

Days after Bree got that nagging feeling that something significant was about to happen in their lives, she made time to confront him.

“What is happening, Bran? Why now? Why are you leaving? Aren’t you happy here with me?” She stood to level their stare, but he had grown more than a foot taller in just a year, making it hard to plead her case when he looked down on her.

“I just want to find out who I am, Bree. See if I can do this on my own.” Bran stood by the bookcase in the living room, picking at the well-worn books on the shelf, ignoring her, so she sat back down.

“Of course, you can do anything,” she said encouragingly. But then tried to pull at his heartstrings. “But why now? I’ll have no one.”

He raised a brow. They were adults, and Bree had been always independent since they were kids. So he knew this was an attempt to make him stay.

“Because we’ve always talked about this hiking trip with Mom and Dad, remember? And it’s time to conquer the great outdoors.”

“I remember, but that was years and years ago... When they were—” Bree bowed her head and failed to end her statement.

Remembering their parents always brought an ache in her heart, as they were very close. It was never easy to recall the moments when their family was complete.

Growing up, the siblings had a very happy childhood and never imagined losing both their parents at a young age, and now, with Brandon leaving, she felt more alone.

“With Nana gone, I have no other responsibility… You’re all grown up, Bree. See, you’ve even been accepted to the police academy. You don’t need me. I, on the other hand, feel like I’m still a teenager with no purpose.”

“But I need you. Bran, you are the only family I have. It’s always been you and me.”

“I know what you mean, but I feel like I don’t belong in the city anymore.”

“This city? Then we’ll move.”

He smiled. Bree had always done everything he wanted, even when it compromised her needs. But it was time to lead their own lives.

“I feel like the outdoors has been calling my name.”

“I thought dreaming about the wild ended a while back? You stopped talking about running away once you began working.”

“I worked to get money for my gear. And now, without Nana stopping me from going, I feel like it’s the right thing to do.”

“What if I want to stop you from going?”

“Bree, please don’t,” he held both of her hands in his and touched their foreheads together. “I need this.”

Bran knelt in front of her, and though she knew the decision had been made, Bree still pouted to convince him to stay. “How about if we go together? I just need a few months to train, then I can take a leave of absence.”

“You can’t. You trained to be in the police academy for two years. Now that you’re in the program, it would not look good on your record if you pull out suddenly.”

“Why are you making so much sense? Where is the impulsive brother I rely on to get me into trouble?”

“I’m still here. I just don’t want to harm your career.”

“I just feel like you’re abandoning me.” She sighed and leaned her head back.

Bran matched her pose to avoid the awkwardness in the situation. They were never good at confrontation, and talking about their feelings was never their thing. “I’m not.” He sighed. “You know I’m doing this so I can become a better brother. I know I haven’t been there for you all those years, but I promise, after this trip, it’ll be you and me.”

“But we’ve never been apart before.”

“You make it sound like we’re connected by the hip.”

“Shut up!” She thumped his chest while he pretended to be injured. “We’ll be states apart. The time zone won’t be the same.”

“We don’t live in the dark ages.”

“But we’ve never been that far from each other.”

“I’m not leaving forever.”

“You’re my rock, Bran. What will I do without you?”

“Are you admitting you’re going to miss me?”

“Don’t be too cocky. Of course, I will.”

Bran’s voice caught on a more serious tone when he spoke. “Don’t make it too hard. Why don’t we do this? After I conquer this trail, I’ll go with you.”

“On the same trail?”

“Yeah, if that is what you want.”

“But then it won’t be an adventure.”

“It would, because then I can show you the best spots. Just think about me as your expert tour guide. We probably won’t get lost as much. We both know how you are with directions.” 

“I guess.” She replied, not rising to his bait. 

“Please, Bree. I need to do this.”

She sighed in resignation. How could she say no when this is the one thing that would make him happy?

“For me, please?” He added with a pitiful look. “I feel like this is my quest.”

“Okay, but I have one request.”

“What is it?”

“I want to set timelines and target destinations so I know where to find you.” 

“That’s more than one.”

“I’m serious,” Bree smirked. Bran could always lift her mood, no matter the situation. “I need something to hold on to while you’re gone. Not knowing where you are will only make me anxious.”

“More than you have been lately?”

“Bran!” she said, looking at him with her serious, I’m not kidding face.

“I promise to call every weekend so you’ll always know where I am,” he said excitedly. Anything reasoning she tried would be pointless.

“There are campsites and rest stops that have cell service and pay phones, so you don’t need to worry. It’s not like I’m trekking to the middle of the African jungle. There are different means of communication everywhere.” He added while spreading the map of the United States on the dinner table.