~09-Hello Georgia~

The flight attendant softly informs me as we descend into Atlanta where the local time is 5:43am.

The wait in Atlanta is just for an hour and I'm spending it luxuriating in the confines of the first class lounge.

I am currently sitting on one of the plush, inviting  couches that sink softly under my weight as I bring out my copy of Wuthering Heights again.

They announce my flight again and I lazily get up, shaking mom awake gently.

Mom looks so peaceful while she sleeps, I find it hard to wake her up.

"Mom" I call softly.

"Wake up, mom" I nudge her gently and her eyes fly open.

"Oh, hey" she smiles and I smile back

"We've got to go" I inform and she nods and gets up.

We make our way to the departure gate to board a different plane.

This one has only six seats in first class..which meant a lot more room.

I curl up under my blanket, get comfy and continue reading my Wuthering Heights.

The flight attendant offers me more orange juice, for which I'm grateful as we approach Savannah international.

I sip slowly and allow myself to feel a modicum of excitement.

Here's the start to my new life. This is my new beginning, the new dawn for me.

It should be about 7am in Seattle. I hope Beth has stopped crying her eyes out.

The thought of her huddled up under her blanket, crying has me on the brink of tears.

We've never had to leave each other for the past 10 years. No vacations or anything like that, and if we did go on vacation, we went together.

I didn't really do anything with my mom do the Shays were all I had...they were all the family I wanted.

And now, having to say goodbye, it just broke my heart.

I shake my head of those sad thoughts and focus  on waking mom up again.

The disembodied voice from the flight deck announces that we're about to land and tells us to use our seat belt.

I shove my old copy of Wuthering Heights back in my backpack.

I strap my seat belt and watch as mom does hers.

The wonderful thing about first class is that they let you off the plane first.

The beauty of travelling with nothing but a backpack is that you don't have to go through endless waiting for baggage at the carousels. You can breeze out of the airport.

Mom, with her slightly big hand bag and me with my backpack alight.

I'm totally clueless about the next step so I look to mom whose eyes scan through the large number of people waiting to welcome their loved ones.

I follow her line of sight, and begin to scan through too even though I have absolutely no idea what I'm looking for.

My eyes find a white placard showing Danielle Sanchez in big, black, bold letters.

"Mom, over there" I inform and point in the direction.

She nods and takes my hand.

She leads me like a child, over to the man holding the placard.

Even though I look like such a child, I still like the feel of it...the last time mom held me like this was before dad died and now well, I just enjoy the feel.

"Danielle Sanchez?" The man asks as we approach him.

I nod and his face beaks into a warm smile of greeting.

"Welcome to Savannah, I'm Clint" he says in a cool, welcoming tone as he leads us through.

Leaving the air-conditioned confines of the arrival terminal, we step into the Georgia heat like we're wearing it.

I have to shrug out of my hoodie, I'm grateful I'm only wearing shorts and a thin fabric polo shirt.

Mom is still wearing her coat though, looking formal as ever.

How can she still be in her coat in such wet heat? 

This kind of wet heat at 10:30 in the morning will take some getting used to.

By the time I'm in the back of Clint's wonderfully air-conditioned Tahoe SUV, I'm limp and my hair has started a frizzy protest to the heat.

I dig out my phone to send a quick text to Beth.

*Arrived safely in Savannah. Tell Clara and Will for me. Xoxo*

"Dear, I noticed you didn't sleep at all throughout the journey. You want to get some sleep when we get home? I'm sure you're exhausted" Mom asks, clearly feeling concern for me.

If only she knew I can't be tired.

"No, mom. I'd like to go to the beach"

"Oh" she lets out in surprise.

I nod and we continue the journey in comfortable silence but mom breaks the silence by asking Clint a few questions which I don't even care to listen to.

I focus my gaze on the road as we drive by, I notice trees, houses, landmarks on the way.

It feels good to think about how this decision might just be the best I've ever made.

~∆~

I am in a blue halter-neck tankini dress, sipping chilled orange juice, facing the Atlantic Ocean.

My mother lounges beside me in a ridiculously large floppy sun hat and Jackie O shades, sipping a Diet Coke.

We are on Tybee Island Beach, about 3 blocks from home.

It feels weird calling somewhere else home. The place I've always known to be home is thousands of miles away.

I say a silent prayer to the heavens that coming here was the  right decision-I hope I don't regret it.

My mind wanders to all the things I could do while I live alone.

"Thanks, mom" I say, feeling really grateful for all her help.

"What for?" She asks in confusion

"Everything, mom" I say, gratefully "the house, the job, the clothes, accompanying me down here, being there for me"

"Oh, baby, that's what mothers do" she whispers with a bitter smile "And maybe I haven't been the best mother to you but believe me when I say that is never happening again"

"I love you mom" I whisper back and she replies with an 'I love you too'

Mom reaches out to hold my hand, as I soak up the sun.

I feel comfortable, safe and warm.

For the first time in forever, I begin to slowly relax.