trunk and gingerly placing the heavy box.
If there was anything Eddie could have done to stop this from happening, he would have done it. But of course, there was
nothing. He could not stop his sister from going off and “pursuing her dreams” as his mother had said it. Andrea was going to college no
matter what Eddie did. And it absolutely sucked.
Eddie loved his sister more than he had loved anyone in his fourteen years so far. She was his support system, his rock, and
above all his best friend. To say he was heartbroken was an understatement, knowing his beloved Andrea would be gone in less than an
hour. Eddie felt as if everything was moving too fast for him, traveling swiftly down the river as he was stuck behind a rock. He sighed and
walked back into the house that was alive with a frantic motion from its inhabitants. He watched Andrea stumble down the carpeted
staircase, carrying the final box.
“Want some help with that?” Eddie asked her, holding his arms out towards the box. She looked up at him as if only just noticing
him there.
“Oh sure, yeah thanks.” Andrea hesitantly placed the box down into his arms. He lifted it up and began walking once again out
the front door, this time with Andrea trailing closely behind him. “So…” He could tell she was choosing her words carefully with him today,
as to not remind him of her inevitable departure from him. He was unsure whether to be thankful for her consideration or saddened that
even she had to tiptoe around his feelings like that on that day. His whole family had been treating him like a two-year-old today, all
knowing how hard he was taking this whole ordeal. All he wanted to do in that moment was to throw down the box and yell at the world
that was taking his sister from him. But he didn’t. He dropped the box down in the truck almost mechanically, as he had done so many
time this week. Though this time, he finally slammed it shut. Then, he turned and looked Andrea in the eyes.
Her composure was visibly crumbling and he could see tears forming in the corners of her eyes. Because they both knew in that
moment that this was it, their final moment together. It almost didn’t seem real, for they’d been together for fourteen years, inseparable
and invincible together. Eddie didn’t know what to say, so he reached out and hugged her. She was still almost a whole head taller than
him, so she rested her head on his, letting a few tears slip out as he cried into her shoulder. They stood like that for a good minute before
Andrea put her hands on Eddie’s shoulders and looking into his eyes once more. His face was blotchy with tears but he tried not to let it
show.
Her voice was small and shaky when she said, “I’ll miss you Ed.”
He nodded and replied, “Me too.” Then, his voice cracked when he said, “Don’t forget me alright? Have fun at college but don’t
forget that I’ll be here, waiting for you to come back again.”
Andrea laughed a bit and straightened her posture. “I could never forget my favorite brother. I’ll call everyday alright?” He
nodded and hugged her again.
“You better.”
Andrea looked past him to the front door before awkwardly pulling away and motioning towards it. “I’d better go tell Mom we’re
ready…”
“Yeah.” He watched her back as she walked away. Eddie leaned against the car and took a deep breath, trying to compose
himself before his mother could see him cry.
When she came back, Andrea was followed by their mother, Vivian, who held their father’s car keys. Vivian quickly got in the car while
Andrea hesitated for a moment. She turned towards Eddie one last time and ruffled his hair.
“Don’t grow up too fast, okay Ed?”
He nodded and watched her smile at him one last time before climbing into the truck and slamming the door shut. He watched
as the car started and he watched as it pulled away from the house. He wished he could have stopped watching as the car drove away,
Andrea’s hand stuck out the window in a wave, before it disappeared completely. He then watched the sidewalk as he stumbled back
inside the chipped white house with a heavy heart.
Eddie closed the front door and walked into the kitchen, where he could see his father, Rob, sitting on the couch watching
football. Rob looked up, probably hearing the footsteps of his son.
“Hey sport, you wanna watch the game with your dad? Eagles are up by six points,” he smiled lazily and Eddie knew the
invitation was most likely insincere, considering his father hated watching football with anyone but himself. He appreciated the sentiment
though.
“That’s okay Dad, I’m just gonna eat some cereal in the kitchen,” Eddie replied, trying to get his father to leave him to eat cereal and cry in
peace.